The Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE), launched to Petit-Goâve this Thursday, April 12, 2012, a workshop of two days, under the theme "Strategic planning of secondary cities and of their area / region of Palmes" in collaboration with the Administrative and Technical Directorate of the Intercommunity of Palmes (DATIP), UN-HABITAT and the UN Programme for Development (UNDP).

Mayors of Petit-Goâve, Grand-Goâve, representatives of Town Halls of Léogâne, Gressier, members of civil society and different socio-professional organizations and delegations from other municipalities of the region participate in this meeting.

After the welcoming remarks of the Mayor of Grand-Goâve, Mr. Reginald Jean, an executive of the Ministry of Planning, presented the initiative of the Mayors of Petit-Goâve, Grand-Goâve, Léogâne, and Gressier, who established after January 12, 2010, an intermunicipal structure, in order to create an effective administration at the level of th region of Palmes. He stated that "This structure becomes an essential partner for both the Haitian State, and for international organizations."

During his speech, he presented to the audience, several drafts of development plans and of urban plans, which are part t of an overall development program called "VIL nou vle a / Haiti emerging 2030" intended to make of the region of Palmes in 2030 :

• The greenest region of Haiti

• One of the most beautiful tourist destinations of the country ;

• A competitive area in terms of agriculture and commercial ;

• A catchment area for the investment of domestic and international capital ;

• A reference in terms of decentralization and good governance ;

• A zone of high productivity.

This approach aims to promote a synergy of actions and to create a common vision, which should lead to the rebuilding of cities devastated by the earthquake of January 2010 (Port-au-Prince, the region of Palmes and Jacmel).

On the other hand, those responsible for DATIP, have presented the results of strategic meetings held in the municipalities of the region of Palmes, meetings that were intended to determine the potential of each municipalities. According to these results, the main axes of development of these cities will be probably the tourism (Gressier and Grand-Goâve), agriculture, agro-insdustrie (Léogâne), the commerce, public services and professionals, (Petit-Goâve). Petit-Goâve also has strengths in tourism and agriculture, but to a lesser degree compared to the previous cities)...

HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondent Petit-Goâve)