The Haitian diaspora represents not just a source of remittances but potentially a powerful engine of investment and entrepreneurship in Haiti. With an estimated two to three million Haitians living abroad, many of them well-educated, professionally skilled, and financially successful, the diaspora theoretically represents a resource of enormous potential for Haiti’s economic development. The challenge of translating that potential into actual investment was a persistent preoccupation of development economists in 2019.
Surveys of diaspora Haitians consistently found high levels of emotional connection to their homeland and genuine desire to contribute to its development. Many reported having specific ideas for businesses, social enterprises, or community investments that they would pursue if conditions permitted. The barriers they cited were equally consistent: political instability, corruption, lack of rule of law, difficulty repatriating profits, and the security challenges that made operating in Haiti extremely difficult.
The 2019 crisis dramatically reinforced these concerns. Diaspora investors who had tentatively been exploring opportunities in Haiti found their plans put on indefinite hold. Several reported withdrawing plans for hotel investments, technology ventures, or agricultural enterprises that had been in development before the political situation deteriorated.
Development organizations focused on diaspora engagement argued that the potential remained enormous and that even modest improvements in governance and security could unlock significant diaspora investment flows. They called for specific policies to reduce barriers for diaspora investors, including streamlined business registration, investment protection, and diaspora bonds.