PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Ilan Goldfajn has ended a visit to Cap-Haïtien at the invitation of the Haitian government, marking the first visit by a multilateral development bank president in many years.
Ilan GoldfajnGoldfajn, who was invited by Economy and Finance Minister, Alfred Mettelus, has reaffirmed the IDB’s strong commitment to Haiti, and will hold meetings government leaders and private-sector representatives, as well as visits to industrial parks and IDB-supported projects.
The visit comes as the bank steps up efforts to support Haiti through a medium-term recovery plan and a focus on private-sector growth and the IDB said that Goldfajn discussed how ongoing and upcoming IDB operations can support government priorities in health, education, infrastructure, and economic recovery.
At the request of the Haitian government, the IDB is leading the coordination of the Medium-Term Recovery and Development Plan (2025–2030), together with the United Nations, the European Union and the World Bank.
The plan focuses on three pillars, namely economic recovery and private-sector-led growth, basic services and human capital; and institutions, justice, and security. The plan uses a regional, phased approach to map opportunities and bottlenecks and align investments with on-the-ground realities.
“We’re committed to Haiti’s recovery and the future of the people of Haiti. We are working hand in hand with Haitian authorities to align resources, investments, and implementation on the ground,” said Goldfajn.
During the visit, the IDB and the government also signed a revised US$125 million water, sanitation, and hygiene project for Haiti’s Grand North Region. The project will expand water access to more 130,000 households, while supporting service providers in a fragile environment.
The IDB said that the visit also included a roundtable with Haitian business leaders to discuss how to mobilize investment and create jobs now – not wait for ideal conditions.
“Fostering private-sector jobs and income is essential to breaking the cycle of poverty and violence. That’s why we’re investing in energy, infrastructure, and skills – and we want to deepen partnerships with Haitian firms and entrepreneurs,” the IDB president said.
The IDB supports private companies through IDB Invest and IDB Lab, including in the Caracol and CODEVI industrial parks and the IDB said that the visit include a meeting to explore the expansion of Cap-Haïtien Airport, as well as site visits to Hospital Justinien and Ecole Mère Anne Marie.
Over the last five years, the IDB has mobilized more than US$670 million, including US$200 million in the past year, to support critical investments in education, health, water, sanitation, and the private sector in Haiti.
Building on this momentum, the IDB said it has proposed US$243 million in new grant resources for 2025-2026.
It said as part of this effort, US$140 million in projects is under preparation, including a youth-skills programme aimed at reducing gang recruitment and the rehabilitation of the emergency room and surgical ward at Hospital Justinien.
