Haiti's recovery from the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake will depend on private investment and trade, as well as government aid, says a former economic adviser to the country's prime minister.
"What we've advocated is a Marshall-type plan," Jean-Louis Warnholz told Canada AM on Friday, referring to the U.S. plan to rebuild Western Europe after the Second World War.
"Remember, the Marshall Plan contained not just aid but also trade," Warnholz said. "Trade is absolutely essential to ensure Haiti gets back on its feet, and remains independent in the future."
So far, international efforts to help the estimated 3 million Haitians affected by last week's powerful quake have focused on search and rescue, and humanitarian relief, with the assistance of foreign governments and aid groups.
But on Monday, foreign ministers from 11 countries across the Caribbean, the Americas and Europe will meet in Montreal to begin sketching out a plan for Haiti's long-term development, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said.
Cannon will chair the meeting. Haiti's Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive is expected to attend, as is U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Royand and "a large number" of non-governmental organizations, such as the Red Cross, will also take part, Cannon said.
Representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have been invited, Cannon added, but he did not say whether they are expected to make the trip.
"It's through these organizations ultimately that governments work to be able to put forward their reconstruction projects," Cannon said on CTV's Power Play.
Warnholz said foreign aid is critical for rebuilding infrastructure in the disaster-struck Caribbean state, such as roads, houses and government offices.
"(But) what is also critical is that the private sector levees a big response and puts their money into Haiti not just to help but also to do business," Warnholz added. "We hope to see a strong response from the primary sector, not just in tourism and agriculture, but also in light manufacturing, garments and energy sectors."
In preparation for the meeting, Cannon was to fly to Washington Friday to meet with the U.S. secretary of State. However, the two wound up speaking by phone after Cannon said his commercial flight ran in to technical problems.
"What we wanted to do was to scope out different proposals as we move forward, because both Canada and the U.S. are the biggest donors to Haiti's reconstruction," Cannon said of his conversation with Clinton.
