Above: Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Haiti (Photo: OPM Haiti)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The governments of Haiti and Vietnam have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the energy sector, the government announced.

The agreement was signed by Haiti Public Works Minister Jacques Rousseau and Vietnam Trade and Industry Minister Vu Huy Hoang, who was in Haiti as part of a delegation led by Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The two sides agreed on several priorities, including the establishment of an energy monitoring system, the planning and development of a national electricity grid, improving the business environment for energy and for Vietnam to provide technical assistance to Haiti in the production of energy using alternative sources, among others.

They also agreed to the development of a programme of domestic lighting, along with the implementation of various “energy research projects.”

In a statement, the government said the Memorandum of Understanding aimed to “develop and strengthen the energy sector” in Haiti, which has long had difficulties in supplying energy across the country.