Thomas Jacques, Minister of Agriculture stated that during discussions on the "Petrocaribe Economic Area (PEA)" on Monday in Venezuela, had been discussed of the agricultural program of food against petroleum products, in order to repay debt incurred by the Haitian government under the Petrocaribe agreement. Quality criteria to which these products must meet before being sold in the Venezuelan market were also discussed.

Prime Minister Lamothe proposed to the Venezuelan authorities, coffee, sugar cane syrup, banana and black beans as food that he wished exchange against oil. Following the proposals of both parties, an agreement was finally reached on a list of agricultural products, which will be part of this exchange program.

Another visit is planned in Venezuela, October 18th to finalize the Phytosanitary Agreement on products for export and fix the calendar of payment of the refund of the Haitian debt amounting to $ 12 million annually. The Minister of Agriculture announced that Haiti would begin exporting to Venezuela in November, without giving further details on the type and volume of the goods concerned.

Recall that during the implementation of the program of foodstuff exchange against oil https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9292-haiti-agriculture-implementation-of-the-exchange-program-oil-against-food.html , the Minister of Agriculture declared on August 22 "We identify products where we already have a habit of export, such as coffee, cocoa and mango [...] we have also identified nearly 16 products with which we can begin to enter into negotiations with Venezuela. These are, among others, coffee, cocoa, beans, peas congo, bananas, sugar cane syrup, rice Sheila, cassava and yam [...]"

Vernet Joseph, the Secretary of State for Agricultural Recovery, was then added that it was necessary to make the agricultural sector a strategic development center in Haiti "agriculture must feed the population and also contribute significantly to the development of country."

While Haiti has difficulty feeding its population this exchange of foodstuff against the oil products, raises skepticism among experts...

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9292-haiti-agriculture-implementation-of-the-exchange-program-oil-against-food.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-9393-haiti-politic-economic-zone-petrocaribe.html

SL/ HaitiLibre