Bringing HOPE to Haiti’s Apparel Industry: Improving Competitiveness through Factory-level Value-chain Analysis
Summary — This report analyzes Haiti's apparel industry, focusing on improving competitiveness through factory-level value chain analysis. It examines trade benefits, cost structures, and challenges to provide recommendations for industry growth and development under the HOPE II legislation.
Key Findings
- HOPE II grants Haitian apparel exports duty-free entry into the United States.
- Haiti's labor force is its biggest asset in terms of cost and quality.
- Electricity costs for industrial users are well above regional and global benchmarks.
- Haiti’s apparel firms should increase productivity to 50 percent of standard, or better.
- Haitian firms are skilled in needle work and produce a wide range of products.
Full Description
The report provides a comprehensive view of the advantages and challenges of manufacturing apparel in Haiti relative to other countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and beyond. It assesses Haiti's attributes and suggests priorities for improving its competitiveness in the global apparel market. The analysis considers workforce skills, business environment, costs, service capabilities, proximity to markets, preferential access to the U.S. market, and overall competitiveness. Research included surveys of apparel firms, detailed cost analysis of standard products, and interviews with industry representatives, labor sector stakeholders, donor organizations, and government officials.