A high-level diplomatic meeting held in Port-au-Prince on May 7, 2026, has cemented a new chapter of development cooperation between Haiti and the European Union, centered on a €340 million investment package slated for delivery by 2028. The gathering brought together Haiti’s Minister of Commerce and Industry James Monazard, Charles Jean Jacques, National Authorizing Officer of the European Development Fund (EDF), leadership from Haiti’s Investment Facilitation Center (CFI), Justin Petricks, Director General of the National Industrial Parks Company (SONAPI), and senior representatives from multiple Haitian government agencies.
Discussions centered on the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, a flagship infrastructure and development partnership that already maintains an extensive active cooperation portfolio across Haiti. Under the current programming period ending in 2028, the full €340 million allocation will be directed toward core priority sectors including broad-based development projects, public infrastructure, healthcare services, primary and secondary education, renewable and conventional energy access, and sustainable transport networks.
Beyond long-term structural development work, the European Union has reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to delivering emergency humanitarian support to the Haitian people, most notably through continuous airlift operations that deliver critical medical supplies to hard-hit regions facing ongoing instability and resource shortages.
During the talks, participants mapped out a range of untapped opportunities for expanded bilateral economic cooperation and foreign direct investment that are designed to boost Haiti’s domestic industrial development and enhance the nation’s global competitiveness. Attendees also underscored the central role of the Global Gateway initiative as a foundational lever for deepening economic ties between the Caribbean nation and the 27-nation bloc.
Minister Monazard opened the meeting by emphasizing that Haiti must take proactive steps to position itself as an attractive destination for targeted investment that drives inclusive economic growth, generates sustainable formal employment, and expands the country’s stock of critical public and private economic infrastructure. Moving forward, Monazard outlined plans to strengthen cross-institutional coordination mechanisms that will streamline Haitian stakeholders’ access to international financing facilities, and accelerate the delivery of large-scale structuring projects across high-priority strategic sectors: energy, agriculture, core infrastructure, and domestic manufacturing.