Airport operations in Haiti will be safer and more efficient, thanks to future infrastructural upgrades supported by a grant from the United States Government. U.S. Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth Merten recently signed a grant agreement worth more than $800,000 with the Director General of the Autorité Aréoportuaire Nationale, or AAN. This grant, funded by the United States Trade and Development Agency, or USTDA, will finance technical assistance for seven priority airport infrastructure modernization projects at Toussaint L'Overture International Airport, Haiti's largest, and the gateway for most of the international air freight and travelers arriving in Haiti each year.
Technical assistance under this grant will assist the AAN in the development of preliminary engineering designs, project budgets, and execution timelines for the 7 projects, which require prompt implementation to promote the safety and efficiency of airport operations. The grant provides technical assistance for 7 projects -- the construction of a parallel taxiway; airport security implementation, construction of a new air traffic control tower; construction of a new power generation facility; construction of a sewage and wastewater treatment plant; rehabilitation of the airport's external and internal road network; and construction of a new international terminal building.
"This grant demonstrates the United States' commitment to help Haiti build back better," said Ambassador Merten. "Toussaint L'Overture Airport is Haiti's gateway to the world, and safety and efficiency improvements will help stimulate economic growth and increase prosperity."
The AAN has been a grantee in 2 previous USTDA-sponsored projects, including the 2005 Port-au-Prince International Airport Modernization Technical Assistance Project and an airport security training project.
During a 3-day visit in August, a USTDA delegation met with members of the public and private sectors in Haiti to conduct due diligence for future potential project investments. The USTDA team identified potential opportunities in the energy and infrastructure sectors, including information and communications technology, aviation, water, public works, seaport, and seismic monitoring projects.
The mission of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency is to promote economic growth in developing and middle-income countries. The United States, through USTDA and other agencies, is proud to work with private and public sector partners in Haiti to help Haitians build a better future.
Airport operations in Haiti will be safer and more efficient, thanks to future infrastructural upgrades supported by a grant from the United States Government.
