Haiti’s women drive economic revival at HAIFEX entrepreneurship fair

PORT-AU-PRINCE — Not far from the discussion stage—surrounded by tables overflowing with Haitian-style garments made from karabela fabric, straw hats, palm-fiber suitcases, and scarves adorned with vèvè symbols rooted in Haitian identity—Maëlle Figaro David welcomed visitors to the inaugural HAIFEX Women’s Entrepreneurship Fair.

The two-day event served as a powerful display of how women are using creativity and business savvy to build their economic portfolios and help breathe new life into Haiti’s economy.

An artisan since 1982, David exhibited her work under the label “Tayino,” crafting designs infused with Haiti’s ancestral vision and centering on the vibrant karabela fabric.

“I’m developing a sector centered on Haiti’s ancestral heritage through karabela, as a way to remind us that we are at once Taíno, African, and Haitian,” said David, founder of Maëlle Création. “I’m organizing this network so that we can truly dress as Haitians—and that’s what I’m presenting at this event.”

Held July 5-6, the first HAIFEX Women’s Entrepreneurship Fair spotlighted Haitian women whose creativity and tenacity continue to energize key sectors of the economy. Nearly 70 exhibitors, brought together by EGM Strategy and Management, showcased their products and services to a growing audience eager for innovation.

“Haitian women entrepreneurs show exceptional resilience and creativity,” said Emmanuel Grégory Morissette, founder of the HAIFEX expo. 

“Yet, after supporting businesses for more than a decade, I’ve seen that fewer than 10% of Haiti’s top corporate taxpayers are women-led. It’s time to change that dynamic.”

The event also gave David the perfect stage to launch her “Tayino” clothing line—an open invitation for Haitians to embrace and celebrate their culture through fashion. 

Visitors explored booths offering handmade shoes, artisanal belts, t-shirts adorned with vèvès symbols, and natural cosmetic products made from locally sourced plants. Culinary offerings ranged from packaged peanuts and pistachios, grated coconut with sugar, jars of traditional cooking spices and tamarind and cherry liqueur to breadfruit meatballs and herbal roots tied to environmental preservation practices.

Among the exhibitors, Les Délices de Vida stood out for jams, marmalades, spicy sauces, fruit such as tamarind, quenepa, and cherry, macerated in alcohol, and chili-infused olive oil—all designed to showcase Haitian flavors and the transformative capacity of women in business.

“Our products are locally made, additive-free, and completely natural. There’s something for every taste—rich in flavor,” the company’s representatives said.

The two-day fair also featured a fashion show celebrating Haitian designers and workshops on women’s economic inclusion and business networking strategies.

At the HAIFEX pitch competition, three women—Marie Changlais Aimé, Naichka Léonard and Laure Mendie—stood out for the strength of their projects and business ideas and each received a grant of one million gourdes to help expand their ventures.

Despite Haiti’s political instability and insecurity, the fair offered moments of reflection, learning, and connection. Attendees said it created a vital space for visibility and recognition of women’s initiatives while offering a brief respite from the country’s challenges.

“This event is more than an expo—it’s a catalyst for women’s entrepreneurship in Haiti,” one participant said.

Below is a display photo of booths and artisans presenting their work at HAIFEX.

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