Jamaica Broilers thinking of expanding to Haiti

Christopher Serju, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies is laying the groundwork to expand its operation into neighbouring Haiti.

This is, however, not likely to happen before early next year, pending the outcome of presidential elections, which are constitutionally due in November.

Group CEO/President Christopher Levy reluctantly admitted this when pressed by The Gleaner following a tour of the Jamaica Broilers booth at the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in May Pen, Clarendon, by a five-member Haitian delegation led by Michel Chancy, minister of state in the ministry of agriculture, natural resources and rural development.

"No, we are not going over there. What's happening is just a matter of courtesy. We are still looking, but we haven't made any decision, we are still exploring. The country has been through a very difficult time, so you can't be too aggressive. We are building relationships," Levy first told The Gleaner.

No decision yet

Asked whether Jamaica Broilers was pursuing the option of investing in Haiti, Levy said: "Yes, I think we are. I think we are looking at it seriously. No decision has been made or anything, but we are seriously strengthening ties."

Earlier Chancy, who was invited to the show by agriculture and fisheries minister, Christopher Tufton, had told The Gleaner that Jamaica Broilers was looking to invest in the country and five Haitians were in fact in the island observing operations at a number of its facilities.

He said the cost of the six-month training course is being borne by the group and was focused on broiler and egg production .

The state minister, who has responsibility for animal production and fishing in Haiti, said there were lots of investment opportunities in the country and he was looking to attract investments from the public and private sector.

Meanwhile, his adviser Henri Chanterlain told The Gleaner that pending the outcome of presidential elections and installation of the new president next year February, nothing concrete was likely to come out of the exploratory initiatives before the middle of 2011, pending political stability there.