Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development

In order to assist businesses to work in the redevelopment of Haiti, several organizations have held or will hold events to bring prospective investment, commercial and related interests together.  Here are a few:

June 10-11, 2010 – AMCHAM DR / AMCHAM Haiti Conference– Montrouis, Haiti

About 600 people attended the “Building A New Haiti” conference organized by the American Chambers of Commerce of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and the U.S. Commercial Service.   Speakers included the Haitian President Rene Preval and the Prime Minister, Max Bellerive.  Partial lists of attendees and presenters and PowerPoint presentations of selected speeches are available on the AmCham DR website:  http://amcham.org.do  David Stillman of PPAF and a team from SImACT attended, with Lesly Kernisant making a presentation in the Tourism segment.  PPAF has posted a few photos from the event.

June 12-13, 2010 – PPAF/SImACT Workshop, Jacmel, Haiti    

About 50 participants from the AmCham conference, plus about 20 from Jacmel and elsewhere participated in the PPAF / SImACT workshop “Reconstruction and Business Opportunities in Southern Haiti.”  Billed as an add-on to the AmCham conference, this workshop focused group discussions and site visits on several practical possibilities.  The Minister of Tourism Patrick Delatour gave a keynote address.   (See article, press and photos.)

June 21, 2010 – “Building a New Haiti” Debriefing and Planning meeting, Brooklyn, NY

About 20 people attended the meeting, held at the offices of the Brooklyn International Trade Development Center of Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York.  Several shareholders and friends of SImACT participated, as well as the PPAF Executive Director.   Thoughts, comments and suggestions of those who attended the June 10-11 conference in Montrouis will be used to shape the July 10 forum and the September trade mission (below) and for communications with government officials.  

July 10, 2010 – Meeting to Plan a Trade Mission to Haiti, Brooklyn, NY

Participants in the July 10 meeting will help plan for a trade mission to Haiti.  The meeting is being organized by the New York State Association of Minority Contractors and the NS and J Advisory Group.  It will be held Medgar Evers College.  PPAF and SImACT have been invited as presenters.  Contact events@nsandj.com  to reserve a place.

September 8-10, 2010 –  Proposed Trade Mission to Haiti 

A trade mission, jointly led by NS&J Advisory Group and SImACT, is being planned for September, to Jacmel and other sites in Haiti.  Details will be available after the July 10 meeting.

On Friday afternoon, June 11,  the Public-Private Alliance Foundation and SImACT, Inc. will hold a panel discussion on Reconstruction and Business Opportunities in Southern Haiti at the American Chambers of Commerce Conference ”Building A New Haiti“.

Panel members will include:  Patrick Delatour, Haiti Minister of Tourism (and Reconstruction);  Dr. Lesly Kernisant, President of SImACT, Inc.; Roland Zenny, President of the Jacmel Chamber of Commerce; and Dr. David Stillman, PPAF Executive Director.

The next morning those registered will depart for the overnight side trip to Jacmel.  (See blog article below:  Register Now for Jacmel Side Event.)

In the aftermath of the January 12 earthquake, Haiti has experienced great financial loss, loss of livelihood and an ongoing humanitarian crisis.   Investments and commercial dealings that respond to the needs of the people and of the economy can help to “build back better”.

The Société Immobilière de Agriculture, Commerce et Tourisme, Inc., (SImACT) and the Public-Private Alliance Foundation (PPAF), in collaboration with Haitian government and other local and international partners, will conduct a workshop for potential foreign and local investors and businesses to facilitate their efforts in the region.  The workshop will bring together the private sector, government, donors, non-profit organizations and others to work together toward the common goal of revitalizing the Southern area of the country.  The workshop will emphasize the United Nations Millennium Development Goals as a framework for sustainable development.

Workshop dates are  27–29 June 2010.  A maximum of 70 participants, both Haitian and from other countries, will be invited to attend.  If you or your organization would be interested in attending or in co-sponsoring, contact Dr. David Stillman at ppafoundation@gmail.com

Languages of the conference will include French, English and Spanish. High-level officials of the Government of Haiti will be specially invited. 

Workshop topics being developed  include: 

• Overview of the Haiti Action Plan for National Recovery and Development
• Regional Priorities for Recovery and Development in Southern Haiti
• Role of the Private Investor and of Public-Private Partnerships
• Perspectives of NGOs and Local Government; Involvement of Local People in Decisions
• Credit and Funds Transfer, Legal Issues, Other
• Subgroups will depend on interest and may include:
  • Infrastructure – Seaport, airport, roads
  • Renewable energy –  Ethanol, biodiesel, solar power
  • Housing – Low-cost, moderate cost and safe repair
  • Agriculture and agribusiness – Fish farming, sugar and other
  • Social venture capital and microfinance
  • Ethanol cookstoves
  • Health – Clinics, training and post-traumatic stress
  • Historic District – UNESCO World Historic Site; repairs to standards
  • Tourism – Marketing of Jacmel, eco-tourism, voluntourism
  • Arts and artisans

The Dominican Aquaculture Association (ADOA) and its partners held a workshop on March 23-24 called  “Estrategias para el Desarrollo de la Acuicultura Dominicana 2010-2015.“    The workshop focused on achievements of the earlier strategic planning process and worked to develop a new strategic plan for 2010-2015.    The Organizing Committee was composed of a representative from each of the following institutions and agencies: IDIAF, CONAPROPE, ADOA, CODOPESCA, FAO-RD, University ISA and the TAIWAN Mission.  

 Rafael Pérez Duvergé , the Executive Director of IDIAF – the Dominican Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Research – opened the workshop.    Featured speakers included Dr. James Tidwell, chair of the aquaculture program of Kentucky State University and Dr. Darryl Jory, a professional with the American Soybean Association.  The Public-Private Alliance Foundation was a co-sponsor of the event.  

As a result of presentations to the U.S. Peace Corps staff in January by Maximo Nicolas, President of ADOA,  David Stillman, Executive Director of PPAF and former Peace Corps Volunteers Bill Miller and Dan Mizroch, Peace Corps has agreed to add fish farming as a priority in its future programming and volunteer assignments.  

The workshop included working groups on research, training, finance, marketing, promotion, and quality control.   The working groups developed presentations that are currently being distilled into a report of the meeting and a contribution to the National Strategic Plan. 

 Highlights at the meeting were announcement by the Taiwan Technical Mission and the Agricultural Development Bank of the DR (Bagricola) that a lending program for small farmers had been agreed and would soon begin.  This would be managed by ADOA.  Kentucky State University announced cooperation with IDIAF and others for research and training.  KSU has offered to facilitate exchanges of students and young professionals, both Dominican and from KSU.  The American Soybean Association announced its support for continued seminars and for nutrients for fish stock.

See the Dominican online newspaper El Nuevo Diario for an article on the aquaculture conference.  (en espanol)   Also see PPAF”s blog for March 6. 

Aquaculture Strategic Planning Workshop Participants

 

Ricardo Colon, CODOPESCA, speaking at opening session

Finance Workshop including representatives of the Taiwan Technical Mission and Bagricola (Dominican Agriculturel Bank), with workshop participants

Leaders of ADOA, Technical Mission of Taiwan, PPAF and American Soybean Association

Several recent articles have mentioned PPAF’s work:

FUNGLODE, the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development of the Dominican Republic, featured PPAF’s work in Haiti, at the UN Department of Public Information / NGO Forum  “NGOs Responding to Crisis: Meeting New Challenges, the Case of Haiti” held on February 24, 2010.  Press release dated March 1, 2010.

The Dominican newspaper El Nuevo Diario  wrote in “Expertos nacionales e internacionales revisarán estrategia en acuicultura“ about the fish farming conference  held by the  Dominican Aquaculture Association ADOA on March 23-24, 2010.  Article dated February 23, 2010.

The April newsletter of the Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions of the University of South Florida included an article about David Stillman’s March 22 talk on Alternative Energy in Developing countries.  See page 4 of the newsletter:   http://patelcenter.rc.usf.edu/documents/newsletters/1004Apr.pdf

The work of PPAF in renewable energy, in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere,  has become even more critical because of the earthquake in Haiti.  The Dominican involvement in relief and reconstruction and the Haitian and international concern to “build back better” have put renewable energy into the forefront.  PPAF has established an Advisory Group on Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development to guide its strategy and program, with a major focus on the island of Hispaniola.     

Members of the Advisory Group have a breadth of knowledge and experience, in government, business, academia, finance and non-profit management.  The broad work of PPAF aims toward achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, especially those aimed toward poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and building global partnerships.

Members of the Group may work together on areas of common interest, and also provide guidance individually. 

The first two topics the Group will address are:

(1)  Renewable Energy in the Dominican Response to the Haiti Earthquake Crisis;  

(2)  Renewable Energy in Haitian Post-Earthquake Reconstruction and Development

Members of the group are: 

Philippe Barjon, MS EE, Product Manager Energy Solutions at OpenLink Financial; Energy Director of BioTek Solutions, Inc.

Antonio Bento, PhD, Associate Professor, Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University

Marty Borruso, BS Forensic Chemistry; Chief Executive Officer, Fuel Bio Holdings, LLC

Gerónimo A. Chotin, BS Finance, Manager of Operations and Finance, Dominican Renewables, Inc.

Johanna Mendelson Forman, JD, PhD, Senior Associate, Center for Strategic & International Studies and Executive Director, Jatropha Foundation

Virgilio Malagon, PhD, Adviser to the President, National Energy Commission of the Dominican.Republic

Pablo Reyes, MA, International Policy; Director, Centro de Estudios Estratégicos Latinoamericanos

Robin van Puyenbroeck,  Master of Law/ Lic. Jur.; LLM International Law; Treasurer, UN Association of New York; Member, Carnegie New Leaders Program; international banker

Jean-Marie Wolff, MBA, MA Real Estate; President, SImACT Mining Holding, Inc.; CFO, SImACT, Inc. (Société Immobilière d’Agriculture, de Commerce, et de Tourisme)

Ex-Officio members of the Advisory Group are:

V. Judith Bowman, MBA, PPAF Senior Fellow.  Consultant in finance

Nazia Habib-Mintz, PPAF Fellow, Renewable Energy Program.  Doctoral candidate, Cambridge University. Consultant in renewable energy

Herb Oringel, MBA, PPAF Board Member.  Chair, Energy Advisory Panel, Town of Somers, NY

Amar Shibli, MBA (2011) - Dartmouth, PPAF Associate.

PPAF has posted materials on its website (see Events Section) relating to the Bioenergy Sectoral Meetings held at the National Energy Commission of the Dominican Republic from 2 to 4 December 2009.   This includes the Spanish language report approved by the CNE as well as links to the invitation, photos and videos filmed in the D.R. with Dominican TV Revista 110 and by PPAF.

PPAF ha publicado material en su sitio web (Sección Eventos), relativa a las reuniones sectoriales de Bioenergía, celebrada en la Comisión Nacional de Energía de la República Dominicana 2 a 4 diciembre de 2009. Esto incluye el informe en español, aprobado por el CNE, así como enlaces a la invitación, fotos y vídeos.

The meetings brought out the views of representatives from the public sector, the financial community and companies with pilot field experience, and academics and the private sector — over 55 people in total.  

En las reuniones participaron los representantes del sector público, la comunidad financiera y las empresas con la experiencia sobre el terreno, y los académicos y el sector privado – más de 55 personas en total.

In addition to the National Energy Commission (CNE) as host and leader, the Public-Private Alliance Foundation and ResearchPAYS, Inc. benefited from collaboration and sponsorship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the RJS Group, S.A., and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP).  The December discussions expanded upon the recommendations reached at the introductory session held in Santo Domingo in early October, where Grupo Vicini, the Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Organization (IREO) and the Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) were sponsors as well.

Además de la Comisión Nacional de Energía (CNE), como anfitrión y líder de la Public-Private Alliance Foundation y ResearchPAYS, Inc. beneficiado de la colaboración y el patrocinio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, el Grupo de RJS, SA, y la United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP). Los debates de diciembre ampliaron las recomendaciones formuladas en la sesión preliminar celebrada en Santo Domingo a principios de octubre, donde el Grupo Vicini, la Organización Intergubernamental de Energías Renovables (IREO) y el Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD) fueron los patrocinadores también.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ambassador Leo Merores, Permanent Representative of Haiti to the United Nations, and Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, spoke at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, January 22, 2010.  The topic was: “Strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations.” in relation to the Emergency Situation in Haiti.

El Secretario General Ban Ki-moon, Embajador Léo Mérorès, Representante Permanente de Haití ante las Naciones Unidas, y el Embajador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Representante Permanente de la República Dominicana ante las Naciones Unidas, habló en la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas en Viernes, 22 de enero 2010. El tema fue: “Fortalecimiento de la coordinación de la asistencia humanitaria de emergencia de las Naciones Unidas.” En relación con la situación de emergencia en Haití.

Le Secretaire-General Ban Ki-moon, Ambassadeur Léo Mérorès, Représentant permanent d’Haïti auprès de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, et l’Ambassadeur Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, Représentant permanent de la République dominicaine auprès de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, a parlé lors de l’Assemblée générale des Nations Unies le vendredi 22 Janvier, 2010. Le thème était: «Renforcement de la coordination de l’aide humanitaire d’urgence de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.” Par rapport à la situation d’urgence en Haïti.

Full webcasts of the session are available in two forms:  with all speeches translated into English, and with all speeches in their original languages.

Lleno transmisiones de las sesiones están disponibles en dos formas: con todos los discursos traducidos al Inglés, y con todos los discursos en sus idiomas originales

Webémissions de la session sont disponibles sous deux formes: avec tous les discours traduit en anglais, et avec tous les discours dans leur langue originale

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2010/ga100122am.rm  [ENGLISH]

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/ga/64/2010/ga100122am-orig.rm  [ORIGINAL]

Mr. Ban Ki-Moon – English; Amb. Merores – francais; Amb. Cuello – espanol.

Approximate times:

07:08’ to 21:45’ –         UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon:    

37:44’ to 43:33’ –         Ambassador Leo Merores

01:59 to 02:07’ –         Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo

The role of the Dominican Republic as a staging area for aid to Haiti is  expanding.  [See our posting just below.]

As reported on the website of the Presidencia, on January 18, 2010, in Santo Domingo, with the agreement and assistance of the President of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. René Preval, and at the initiative of the President of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, a meeting was held with representatives from the member countries of the CARICOM; OAS, Canada, Spain, United States, Brazil, the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) in Haiti, the European Union and the World Bank, to examine the best manner to address this dramatic situation. 

The group has decided to hold a preparatory conference based on several existing sources, including  Millennium Development Goals,  the 2008-2010 National Strategy Document on growth and poverty reduction and the World Bank document best known as Haiti: Options and Opportunities for Growth.  The next step is convening of a working group in Canada on January 25. 

For more information, see: http://www.presidencia.gob.do/app/article.aspx?id=11892

PPAF has uploaded a video of Dr. Virgilio Malagon, adviser to the president of the National Energy Commission (CNE), interviewed by Dr. David Stillman, PPAF Executive Director.  On January 15, 2010, they discussed results of the two seminars held in October and December 2009, of which PPAF was a co-sponsor.  The CNE President has declared 2010 to be the “Year of Renewable Energy” and aims to put into service at least 50-75 megawatts from wind power, solar panel and some thermal generation of electricity.   The link for the video is Renewable Energy in the Dominican Republic.

The CNE is formulating a national energy program involving perspectives from government, economic, financial and religious sectors.   Three main points are resources for the CNE, pilot projects and public education.   Malagon and Stillman agreed that PPAF should continue and strengthen its involvement with CNE in these matters.