Their are great things happening in HAITI !

by | Sep 30, 2025 | Voices

The team at HANWASH are so happy to learn about this.

Hansae Resumes Production in Haiti and Eyes Expansion as Stability Improves

This article was written by Jun Chung, vice president of strategy and planning at South Korean-based textile and garment manufacturing group Hansae.
International headlines often paint Haiti as a nation gripped by crisis—from political unrest and economic hardship to uncertainty about the future and unruly crime. These stories often emphasize the struggles of families forced to make impossible choices, from keeping children in school to putting food on the table.

It was against this backdrop that I traveled to Haiti in July, carrying with me the same expectations shaped by such headlines.

What I found, however, was a reality far more nuanced. The airport in Cap-Haïtien was calm and orderly, the streets were alive with daily commerce and children in bright yellow uniforms played together during recess. International peacekeepers managed traffic quietly in the background while families and businesses went about their routines with determination. Life, community and resilience were everywhere—a sharp contrast to the images I had carried with me. These simple (but vivid) scenes reflected a society seeking normalcy and stability, step by step.

A return to work at Hansae Haiti

This sense of renewal was even more tangible inside Hansae’s Port-au-Prince factory. After the facility suspended operations in early 2024 due to a state of emergency, Hansae Haiti cautiously reopened two production lines that September. As of July 2025, six lines are now active and operating at increasing capacity.

Hansae Resumes Production in Haiti and Eyes Expansion as Stability ImprovesThe mood on the factory floor was unmistakable. Workers were eager, focused and visibly proud to be back at work. Several employees told me how critical this job is for their families. Attendance now exceeds 95 percent, efficiency has been improving week by week and there is a palpable sense of momentum. What struck me most was not only the discipline of the workforce but also the optimism that comes from having stable employment once again.

Encouraging shifts are happening outside the factory as well.

In June, a new U.S. ambassador was appointed, bringing with him a background of both military and diplomatic experience. His arrival has been viewed as a sign of stronger international commitment to stabilization efforts. Haiti itself is also preparing for national elections next year—an important step toward building political continuity and credibility.

On the trade front, the Haitian Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act and the Haiti Economic Lift Program (HELP) Act—vital to sustaining Haiti’s apparel sector—are approaching their scheduled expiration in September. Yet momentum in Washington is strongly in favor of extending these trade preference programs, with support from bipartisan lawmakers, major U.S. brands and industry associations like the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). At the same time, shifting tariff policies have made Central America increasingly competitive compared to Asia, positioning Haiti as a more attractive sourcing destination.

Looking ahead

Hansae Resumes Production in Haiti and Eyes Expansion as Stability ImprovesHaiti’s history is complex, shaped by centuries of hardship and resilience. But what stood out most during my visit was the determination of its people to keep moving forward. At Hansae Haiti, we are preparing to expand operations to 16 lines by the end of 2025, building on the existing infrastructure and the commitment of our workforce.

For Hansae, Haiti is not only an additional source of production capacity, but a strategic foothold in Central America, where demand for reliable and cost-competitive manufacturing continues to grow. For the employees I met, however, it represents something more personal: stability, livelihood and the chance to build a brighter future for their families.

As my plane departed Port-au Prince, I reflected on the gap between the images so often portrayed in the news and the reality I witnessed firsthand. Haiti is indeed facing challenges, but it is also a country of remarkable resilience and potential. Step by step, progress is being made—and Hansae is proud to be part of that journey.