In April 2016, Haïti Priorise held its ninth sector expert roundtable to discuss the best solutions to address challenges in Haiti’s financial markets and access to credit systems. Roundtable participants were asked to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current policy efforts and to propose actions they think should be prioritized as a means to improve Haiti’s financial markets and access to credit systems.

1. Financial
Markets and
Access to Credit
Research Ideas
Port-au-Prince
April 2016

2. Working with 30-50 economists including Nobel Laureates, 100+ sector experts,
government, donor organizations, civil society, development agencies, businesses,
youth, across rural and urban areas to identify, analyze and prioritize interventions
that will deliver greater benefit per gourde spent, helping move Haiti towards a
more prosperous long term future.

3. Copenhagen Consensus
Center organized roundtable
discussions with an aim to
figure out smarter solutions to
the most problematic issues
facing Haiti.
These roundtables are
one of several sources
for research ideas.

4. Research Ideas

5. Legal framework;
(1 of 2)
• Securing land rights:
• Improve the system of verification of land titles by creating a
digital registry or database for DGI, including regional land
registries, a registry for property and equipment and
mortgage register that shows tax bonds for banks;
• Shorten verification period for land titles and tax bonds,
currently 12-24 months;
• The state to buy properties and generate revenue from the sale
of properties to supply a litigation fund for land conflict.
• Impose a limit on the budget deficit.
• Remove the sanctions imposed on exports.
• Increase customs tariffs.

6. Legal framework;
(2 of 2)
• Reduce the administrative burden of the state by
eliminating the Senate and creating deputy mayors of
each municipality instead of a deputy and mayor for
each municipality.

7. Tourism, Industry;
(1 of 2)
• Reduce the length of time to have a license.
• Reduce the cost of energy for businesses.
• Create three Economic Zones (North, South and Central
Plateau) comprising of an integrated development plan,
a monetary policy favoring exports and public and
private investment, regional land registries related to
these areas and infrastructure, equipment and the
personnel required.
• Create public enterprises in partnership with the private
sector in risky sectors to boost targeted sectors.

8. Tourism, Industry;
(2 of 2)
• Create a tourist "green zone" around international
airports, historic and cultural monuments to encourage
tourism
• Green zone: equipped with infrastructure up to international
standards such as roads, traffic lights, traffic police, health
services, schools and other required services.
• Encourage economies of scale by creating micro-
industrial parks to consolidate and formalize small
businesses owners.

9. Finance, Credit;
(1 of 2)
• Create a national credit bureau in the BRH.
• Increase the amount of banks’ portfolio allocated to
giving credit, currently 33%.
• Non-Bank Financing: Creating insurance houses which
have the obligation to use part of the proceeds to feed
the capital of SMEs.
• Participatory Financing: Provide financial incentives
linked to development projects in the areas where the
diaspora originates.
• Create a public shareholding system to increase the
capital available to SMEs.

10. Finance, Credit;
(2 of 2)
• Strengthen the microfinance sector by applying
strategic governance practices by increasing access to
capital, using ICTs to make more efficient and effective
administrative systems and pushing the diaspora to
help fund investments related to micro and small
enterprises.

11. Training, Education;
(1 of 1)
• Add courses to the national curriculum in secondary
schools that teach the principles of macro- and
microeconomics.
• Form public-private partnerships to build the capacity
of professional schools to train people in targeted areas.
• Strengthen judicial institutions through investing in
schools for judges and improving judicial remuneration
packages to attract the "best of the best."

12. Public policy;
(1 of 3)
• Create a tax incentive apparatus for helping companies
increase production.
• Increase the number of formal firms.
• Increase access to energy by increasing the rate of
energy consumption, currently at 65%.
• Develop a business plan for the country that identifies
the products / goods / services that can be marketed
and where to find these products / goods / services.
• Prohibition for buying products that are produced and
available locally (including agricultural products and
others) from elsewhere.
• Develop a land use plan.

13. Public Policy;
(2 of 3)
• Have regularly held elections using an electronic voting
system.
• Apply a monetary policy conducive to investment and
business.
• Create a mechanism for communication, awareness and
education for the masses around tax, economic and
financial issues.
• Subsidize the "down payment" for real estate projects.
• Create three cells: one in the executive and in the two
parliamentary chambers that are responsible for
ensuring the consistency of policies, implementation
and assessments.

14. Public Policy;
(3 of 3)
• Create real estate projects in the form of gated
communities that include shared infrastructure & basic
services such as water, energy and sanitation.
• Undertake a review of trade policy.
• Implement the law on MFIs.
• Outsource the production and distribution of energy to
reduce energy costs in the budget, this represents 25%
of the budget.
• Lower the tax rate related to real estate transactions.

15. Agriculture;
(1 of 1)
• Provide specific privileges to those in the agricultural
sector including fixed interest rates over a term of 10
years (similar to those that were offered to the
construction and hospitality sector operators).
• Subsidize insurance for farmers.
• Create a mechanism for regulating and strengthening
the agricultural sector: home insurance, restrictive
laws, property rights, subsidies and rural police to
reduce agricultural losses.
• Create an investment fund for agriculture.

16. For more information www.HaitiPriorise.com