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Embassy of India
Havana |
India-Haiti Bilateral Relations
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India’s relations with Haiti have been friendly, though interaction between the two countries has been limited due to unstable political situation in Haiti. This has worsened in the past 3 months as a consequence of food riots, resignation of the Prime Minister and a search for a new PM. The people have already rejected 2 suggestions for the post of PM made by President Rene Garcia Preval. India established diplomatic relations with Haiti on 27 September 1996. Subsequently, it appointed Mr. Eddy Handal as Honorary Consul of India in Haiti. To begin with, Indian High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica was concurrently accredited to Haiti but since late 2003, the accreditation has been transferred to Embassy of India, Havana, Cuba. A draft MOU for Foreign Office Consultations was submitted to the Haitian side in February 2001. Haiti has no diplomatic or consular representative in India. But it has an honorary Consul in Mumbai.
India had shown concern for the needs of Haiti even before the establishment of diplomatic relations. It had sent a 140 member CRPF troops to Haiti on a peace mission under the auspices of United Nations in August 1995. The role of the Indian contingent in providing police protection and maintaining law and order was highly appreciated. |
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India’s trade with Haiti is small but it exports to the country have been growing in recent years. The main Indian products exported are pharmaceuticals goods, textiles, rubber products and cosmetics and plastic and linoleum products. India’s exports to Haiti which stood at Rs.75.4 million in 1997-98 have been steadily growing and rose to Rs 490 million in 2002-03, Rs 394 mn in 2003-4 ,Rs 689 mn in 2004-5 and Rs 503mn upto Oct 2006 . The potential for further growth, particularly in the areas of drugs and pharmaceuticals is substantial ( pharma exports saw an increase of 170% in 2005-06). Indian companies manufacturing anti-retroviral drugs have a good market in Haiti. Cost competitive Indian drugs for treatment of AIDS would also benefit Haiti.
Trade in Million USD
Year |
2002-03 |
2003-04 |
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
Up to June 2007 |
Exports |
10.89 |
8.56 |
10.18 |
16.33 |
21.69 |
5.97 |
Imports |
0.04 |
0.48 |
1.02 |
0.29 |
1.13 |
0.50 |
Total Trade |
10.93 |
9.04 |
11.20 |
16.62 |
22.82 |
6.47 |
Exchange rate:
2005-06 1 US $ = Rs.44.2735
2006-07 1 US $ = Rs.45.2849
Up to June 2007 1 US$ = Rs.40.00 (adopted by mission for conversion)
Source: Deptt of Commerce, Government of India.
India has been offering assistance to Haiti under ITEC programme . In 2006-07, 1 Haitian and in 2007-08, 4 Haitians visited India under ITEC training programme. Haiti has also been availing of Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) programme being run by the Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi.
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Indian Community in Haiti
Indian community in Haiti is small. It comprises approximately 50-60 members. Almost all of them are Indian passport holders. Several of them are professionals, – doctors, engineers, technicians – working in vegetable oil extraction plants and other fields. Some are into private business- scrap trade There are few priests and some 15-20 Sisters working for the Missionaries of Charity. Some 30-40 Indians are working for the UN Mission ( MINUSTAH) in Haiti.
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Haiti was hit by Tropical Storm Noel in November 2007 which caused widespread damage to life and property. India donated medicines worth 50,000 USD to Haiti as assistance.
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Indian nationals do not require visa to enter Haiti.
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| Last updated July 2008 |
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