The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) implemented the “Trade and Private Sector Component” of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Cooperation Programme under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) FED/2018/399-379. This programme, entrusted by the Governments of the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the European Union, ran from 2018 to 2023 with a budget of EUR 5,765,306.

The overall objective of the programme was to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in a sustainable manner by supporting initiatives aimed at reducing current imbalances in the long term and reduce poverty levels.

The programme focused on three main objectives:

• 1. Promoting a more balanced and formal trade between Haiti and the Dominican Republic;

• 2. Enhancing the quality of goods produced in both countries and improving the competitiveness of enterprises, with special attention to three value chains: Cocoa/Chocolate; Essential Oils/Cosmetics; and Handicraft/Fashion/Accessories/Jewelry;

• 3. Reinforcing institutional cooperation between the Ministries working on trade-related issues and the Customs Administrations, as well as fostering public-private and private-private dialogue.

Implementation of the 11th EDF Haiti-DR Binational Programme