Earlier this week, U.S. Ambassador accredited to Haiti, Pamela White, was the keynote speaker at the awards dinner of the "Etre Ayisyen" Foundation’s "Discovering Young Entrepreneurs".

This Foundation, has provided training and assistance to over 1,800 entrepreneurs in the past year, and received more than 300 business plan submissions for the competition. 80 finalists were selected to present business plans and sales pitches to a jury of experienced Haitian entrepreneurs, investors, and other advisors – including staff from the U.S. Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Section.

At the awards dinner, 32 winners were recognized for the excellence of the presentations, and received start-up capital to grow their businesses. Top winners received $5,000 each.

Ambassador White told the young businesspeople "Entrepreneurship is a way of looking at the world and seeing not just obstacles, but opportunities; not just the world as it is, but the world as it could be, and then having the confidence, the determination, and the resources to move those worlds closer together. All of you here tonight remind me that there is a growing population of young people in Haiti brimming with intellectual energy and capabilities that are seeking new market opportunities. There is nothing more important than new ideas. It is well known that Haiti’s creativity sets her apart. She soars in her richness of ideas, which is why I keep saying Haiti is too rich to be poor."

HL/ HaitiLibre