IDB awards $40.5M to expand industrial park in northern Haiti
by The Associated Press
Grant for will see administration buildings, roads and bike lanes built at Caracol Industrial Park
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti—The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) plans to award $40.5-million to help an industrial park in northern Haiti with its expansion.
The grant for the Caracol Industrial Park is to finance the construction of canteens, administrative buildings, roads, bicycle lanes and other facilities.
The industrial park is anchored by a South Korean textile firm and is the United States government’s biggest investment in Haiti since a 2010 earthquake destroyed thousands of homes and displaced 1.5 million people.
The U.S. has invested more than $124-million in the project.
Backers say the facility will create 20,000 to 65,000 much-needed jobs upon completion.
A recent U.S. report said that only 1,450 Haitians have been hired so far.
The IDB announced approval of the grant Jan. 2.
