Investing

flag Haiti Haiti: Investing

FDI in Figures

According to the UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI inflows to Haiti decreased from USD 51 million to USD 39 million between 2021 and 2022. Still, FDI inflows to the country have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. The stock of FDI also increased in 2022, reaching USD 2 billion (around 9.9% of GDP). The transport, telecommunications, and oil sectors attract the most FDI. More recently, construction, textile, and the manufacture of automotive components have also been drawing foreign investments. The United States and the countries of the European Union are Haiti's main investors, although China has grown in importance. Haiti has also partnered with its neighbor, the Dominican Republic, to attract more FDI.

Haiti, one of the most urbanized nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, is situated in the western third of the island of Hispaniola. While Haiti's investment climate presents opportunities, it also presents significant challenges. The country boasts ample arable land and a youthful population, yet these advantages are offset by endemic corruption, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, violence in the capital, high inflation, and the emigration of numerous skilled professionals from the private and medical sectors. Despite the challenging business climate, Haiti's legislation actively promotes foreign direct investment. The government has prioritized infrastructure development, including enhancements in energy production, and has identified agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism as key investment sectors. The Haitian investment code ensures equal rights, privileges, and protection for both local and foreign companies. According to Haitian law, the business environment offers equitable treatment to all investors, including women, minorities, and foreign nationals. Various types of businesses can be established in Haiti, including sole proprietorships, partnerships, joint-stock companies, public corporations, subsidiaries of foreign companies, and cooperative societies, with corporations being the most prevalent business structure. Foreign firms are incentivized to engage in government-funded development projects. Performance requirements are typically not mandated on foreign firms as prerequisites for initiating or expanding investments, unless explicitly stated in a signed contract. Haiti’s overall business climate is considered poor, and the country ranks 172nd among the 180 economies on the 2023 Corruption Perception Index and 155th out of 184 countries on the latest Index of Economic Freedom.

 

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors

  Haiti Latin America & Caribbean United States Germany
Index of Transaction Transparency* 2.0 4.1 7.0 5.0
Index of Manager’s Responsibility** 3.0 5.2 9.0 5.0
Index of Shareholders’ Power*** 4.0 6.7 9.0 5.0

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

Note: *The Greater the Index, the More Transparent the Conditions of Transactions. **The Greater the Index, the More the Manager is Personally Responsible. *** The Greater the Index, the Easier it Will Be For Shareholders to Take Legal Action.

 
Foreign Direct Investment 202020212022
FDI Inward Flow (million USD) 255139
FDI Stock (million USD) 1,940.51,991.82,031.2
Number of Greenfield Investments* 0.00.00.0
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD) 000

Source: UNCTAD - Latest available data

Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.

 

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Tax Rates

Value added tax (VAT) - Taxe sur la valeur ajoutée (Local name)
10% (standard rate)
Company Tax
30%
Withholding Taxes
Dividends: 15%, Interests: 15%, Royalties: 15%.
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers
6% for Retirement Insurance Office plus 3% for health insurance.
Other Domestic Resources
Directorate General of Taxation, in French
Overview of Haiti's tax measures in response to Covid-19
Center for Facilitation of Investments
Consult Doing Business Website, to obtain a summary of the taxes and mandatory contributions.
 
 

Individual Taxes

Income tax Progressive rates from 0% to 30%
From HTG 0 to 60,000 0%
From HTG 60,001 to 240,000 10% 
From HTG 240,001 to 480,000 15%
From HTG 480,001 to 1,000,000 25%
Above HTG 1,000,000 30%
 
 

Country Comparison For Corporate Taxation

  Haiti Latin America & Caribbean United States Germany
Number of Payments of Taxes per Year 47.0 28.2 10.6 9.0
Time Taken For Administrative Formalities (Hours) 184.0 327.5 175.0 218.0
Total Share of Taxes (% of Profit) 42.7 46.8 36.6 48.8

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

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Investment Opportunities

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement
Inter-American Development Bank, Tenders in South America
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide
Setting Up a Company
Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a Business in Haiti.
 

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company Haiti Latin America & Caribbean
Procedures (number) 12.00 8.00
Time (days) 97.00 25.22

Source: Doing Business.

 
 
 

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Latest Update: May 2024