Haiti's President-Elect Determined To Jumpstart Economy

By Kaeun Yu

Haitian President-Elect Michel Martelly expressed his determination Thursday for reinvigorating Haiti through economic modernization and partnerships with financial institutions.

“My focus, as I promised during my campaign, is to revive and modernize Haiti’s economy,” Martelly told reporters during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington. 

To accomplish the reforms and stimulate the economy, Martelly said he would need access to loans from international financial institutions.

“No country can build or rebuild infrastructure based on the grants alone,” Martelly explained.

He also said he plans to bring economic development by attracting foreign direct investment projects and opening Haiti to tourism and businesses.  

Martelly, a singer-turned-politician, recently won a sizable victory in the country’s run-off elections. His inauguration is May 14.