How to invest in Haiti

The Caribbean country of Haiti occupies the western third of the Caribbean Sea island of Hispaniola, sharing a land border with the Dominican Republic to the east. Port-au-Prince is the capital.

The first Europeans arrived in 1492, during Christopher Columbus’ first voyage, believing he had discovered India or China. Later, it was ruled by the Spanish and the French. The official language is now French, and the currency is the Haitian gourde (HTG).

Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas and one of the world’s poorest countries. Only 52.9 percent of the population is literate, and 65 percent of the population lives in poverty. Outside of Sub-Saharan Africa, it has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

The agriculture sector is the country’s mainstay, but mining, manufacturing, and tourism also play important roles.

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The economy of the country is heavily reliant on trade relations with its neighbours, particularly the Dominican Republic and the United States. Despite the challenges of the business climate, Haiti’s legislation encourages foreign direct investment, and the Haitian investment code gives both local and foreign companies the same rights, privileges, and protection.

The Haitian government offers two types of incentives for foreign investment: customs duty exemptions and income tax exemptions. Import and export policies are non-discriminatory and do not take nationality into account.

Haiti is still dealing with significant challenges and civil unrest. With the timing of national and local elections uncertain, political insecurity and a more short-term economic policy focus are expected to exacerbate the workings of an already opaque bureaucracy. Following President Jovenel Moise’s assassination in July 2026, an interim Haitian government was formed.

It is responding to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the southwestern part of the country in August 2026, investigating the assassination of the President, expanding its COVID-19 vaccination efforts, collaborating with the Haitian National Police to promote security and the rule of law, and combating burgeoning gang violence, among other things.

The economy was expected to contract slightly in 2026, and the government’s ability to provide fiscal stimulus was limited.

In his February 2017 inauguration speech, former President Jovenel Mose identified agriculture, energy, transportation, and water as key investment sectors for development in Haiti, specifically prioritising the following areas. Prime Minister Henry and other interim government leaders have issued public statements reaffirming their commitment to the following priorities:

• Maintain political and social stability by reforming the state apparatus.
• Make Haiti a desirable investment destination.
• Increase agricultural output while improving the environment;
• Construct infrastructure for energy, transportation, and ports.
• Improve the infrastructure for water and sanitation;
• Improve the education system’s infrastructure and quality, and
• Stability can be promoted through social projects.

Who can invest in Haiti

Many foreign companies do business in Haiti via local agents and distributors. Under Haitian law, two parties are free to negotiate a contractual agreement without the supervision or approval of the Haitian government. Agents are typically paid on a commission basis.

Despite the challenges, there are opportunities for small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Haitian market. Among other things, Haiti imports rice, poultry meat and edible offal, sugars and sweeteners, dairy products, wheat, vegetable oils, iron and steel, vehicles, electronics, machinery, and refined fuel.

Electronics, cosmetics, poultry, telecommunications equipment, electrical power systems, transportation equipment, cereals, meat and poultry, agricultural machinery, and construction equipment are among the products that companies can export.

Infrastructure, including roads, airports, housing, telecommunications and information technology, and energy, has the best prospects for major projects. The Dominican Republic, the United States, Canada, the Netherlands Antilles, and China are Haiti’s main import partners.

A few facts about the Haiti economy

The US is one of Haiti’s most important trading partners. In 2026, the US imported $837 million in goods from Haiti, a 16.9 percent decrease from $1.05 billion in 2019. The United States imported $763 million in apparel from Haiti through the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement and Haiti Economic Lift Program (HOPE/HELP) Acts and Caribbean Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) legislation in 2026, accounting for more than 91 percent of total exports to the United States. The Haitian garment industry continues to pique the interest of large-scale manufacturing operations. Aside from the apparel assembly sector, the shipping and telecommunications sectors also draw a large number of foreign investors.

Haiti’s economy continued to deteriorate in 2026, with annual inflation of 22.7 percent and volatility in the country’s currency, the Haitian gourde (HTG), with a 16 percent depreciation against the dollar in 2019 compared to a nearly 28 percent appreciation in calendar year 2026. Following recurring periods of countrywide shutdowns due to protests in 2019 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, businesses in Haiti will face additional challenges in 2026 due to energy supply issues, political instability, and persistent gang violence, which will disrupt some commercial activity.

While there are business opportunities in the country, the investment and trade climate in Haiti is difficult. In well-known indices tracking ease of doing business and perceptions of corruption, Haiti ranks near the bottom globally. Poor infrastructure, weak investor protections, uneven contract enforcement, high energy costs, and corruption are all barriers to investment.

Why it can be profitable to invest in Haiti

• The Haitian economy is one of the most open in the Caribbean
• Haiti is close to the United States, and many Haitian businesspeople speak fluent English
• US goods account for more than 32% of total Haitian imports
• Haiti has four international security-certified ports (Port au Prince, Cap Haitian, Lafito, and St. Marc).
• Multiple daily flights between Haiti and the United States are usually available from two international airports (Port au Prince and Cap Haitian). The airport in Cap Haitian facilitates trade and provides quick access to the Caracol and CODEVI industrial parks, both of which are located in free-trade zones in the north-eastern region.

• According to the Central Bank of Haiti, total imports in Haiti totalled $3.7 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2026, while total exports totalled $886 million. Imports account for more than 70% of all goods sold in Haiti.
• One of Haiti’s most valuable assets is its adaptable, trainable, and frequently multilingual workforce. The labour force is estimated to be 4.5 million people. The country’s population of over 11 million people is very young, with approximately 55 percent under the age of 30, and 40 percent between the ages of 30 and 65, with a strong desire for work.
• The Haitian government’s Centre for the Facilitation of Investment (CFI) reports a stable labour force, with factory managers reporting low absenteeism (2%) and turnover rates ranging from 4% to 6% per year.
• Haiti is also known for its heritage in the areas of crafts, artisan-level industry, and product processing.

Risks about investing in Haiti

Although Haiti has an open economy in theory, there are significant barriers to trade and foreign investment in the country, such as corruption, gang violence, political instability, and a burdensome bureaucracy.

In the World Bank’s 2026 Ease of Doing Business report, Haiti received a score of 40.7 out of a possible 100, placing it 179th out of 190 countries on the list.

The following are the most common concerns expressed by foreign investors:

• Instability in politics;
• Insecurity, crime, and gang violence are all problems.
• Foreign currency exchange is unavailable;
• Corruption is widespread;
• Transparency is lacking in government tendering procedures.
• Unreliable grid electricity and high onsite electricity generation costs;
• Haiti’s need for improved port access and overall poor infrastructure, including a lack of internet connectivity;
• Credit is difficult to obtain due to the lack of a national credit bureau. and
• Land disputes are common, owing in part to a lack of effective cadastral and civil registries, as well as ineffective civil dispute resolution.
• Given the difficult business environment and despite investment-friendly policies, Haiti receives relatively low levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, it has recently experienced a 60 percent drop, from $75 million in 2019 to $30 million in 2026. (UNCTAD).
• The official languages of Haiti are French and Creole. When interacting with official government offices in Haiti, companies may require the services of an interpreter.
• The government sets retail prices for gasoline, diesel, and kerosene in gourdes at a rate that usually necessitates government subsidies to maintain.
• This subsidy, along with its contribution to the government’s budget deficit, has a significant negative impact on the value of the gourde.

Ways to invest in Haiti

The best prospects for major projects are in infrastructure, including road, airport, housing, telecommunications and information technology, and energy.

Investing in real estate in Haiti

The Haitian system for establishing property rights is so convoluted, complicated, and corrupt that owning any property will always be a pipe dream for the average Haitian. Obtaining a legally recognised title to property in Haiti can take over 11 years with about a hundred bureaucratic steps involving dozens of separate offices and countless forms to be filed.

Foreigners may not have more than one residence in the same district or own real estate without the Ministry of Justice’s permission. Foreigners’ land holdings are limited to 1.29 hectares in urban areas and 6.45 hectares in rural areas. Furthermore, foreigners are not permitted to own property or structures near the border.

Foreigners who establish Haitian corporations with corporate offices in Haiti, on the other hand, are not subject to property restrictions.

Foreign Direct Investment in Haiti

The legislation in Haiti encourages foreign direct investment.

Import and export policies are non-discriminatory and do not take nationality into account. Under the 1987 Investment Code, both Haitian and foreign investors have the same rights, privileges, and protections. Despite Haiti’s investment code and legislation to encourage foreign direct investment, investors have reported that there have been no notable improvements in the legal framework and investment code in recent years to improve Haiti’s business climate, create and strengthen core public institutions, and improve economic governance and transparency.

The Central Bank continues to collaborate with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to put in place measures to create a stable macroeconomic environment.

Despite the passage of anti-money laundering and anti-corruption legislation to ensure that Haitian legislation conforms to international standards, some claim that the government has failed to follow the legal framework of these laws and has failed to incentivize investment in Haiti.

The Center for Investment Facilitation (CFI) was founded to promote investment opportunities in Haiti. The CFI’s main objectives include streamlining the investment process by simplifying trade and investment procedures, providing up-to-date economic and commercial information to local and foreign investors, and encouraging investment in priority sectors.

In practise, however, the Haitian government made only limited progress in 2018 in terms of incentivizing job creation and increasing national output in agriculture, apparel assembly, and tourism. The Haitian government intends to refocus CFI’s efforts on promoting domestic and international investment, while maintaining a strong emphasis on public relations. Large investors interested in Haiti can also take advantage of the CFI’s tailored services.

Alternative Methods to Invest in Haiti

Regional and on-site energy production, agribusiness, and light manufacturing are among the emerging sectors in Haiti. Power generation equipment, including renewables, energy efficient and smart grid systems, packaging and food processing equipment, and construction materials, are in high demand in Haiti.

The Haitian government, through its energy regulator, ANARSE, is implementing a strategy to grant regional concession grants to private operators in order to increase access to electricity for households and businesses. This process is still ongoing for the northeast regional grid, and plans are in the works for additional concession grants across the country.

Apparel, agribusiness, business process outsourcing (BPO), infrastructure development, real estate, and construction are among the other sectors with high growth potential.

FAQ

Can you invest in Haiti?

Yes, there are opportunities for small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Haitian market.

Is it profitable to invest in Haiti?

It can be profitable since the Haitian economy is one of the most open in the Caribbean and the country is close to the United States, and many Haitian businesspeople speak fluent English. Haiti has four international security-certified ports (Port au Prince, Cap Haitian, Lafito, and St. Marc).

What are the risks of investing in Haiti?

Significant risks to trade and foreign investment in the country include corruption, gang violence, political instability, and a burdensome bureaucracy.