By Rene Devis, Heritagekonpa Magazine, Photo by Richarson Dorvil

The seed for the first Haitian Woman’s Business Convention was planted in 2003 to empower and enhance enhance women business owners and their businesses.

The 2009 convention, “Femmes Création et Production ”, provides business opportunities, panel discussions and a business expo to over 500 women from around the country. Convention attendees were also giving hands-on information on how to achieve financial literacy, balance a budget, accountability and means to healthy business choices.

The 3-Day convention, sponsored by “Femmes En Démocratie” under the direction of Danielle St-Lot, provided women with effective and efficient means to market their products to a larger audience. The Expo was held on Saturday at the Karibe Convention Center in Petion Ville.

Newly appointed new U.S. Ambassador to Haiti, Kenneth Merten and his wife and daughter attended the 2009 Haitian Women Business Expo. Mr. Merten was appointed by President Barack Obama in June. He has previously worked twice in Haiti; once as the Economic Section Chief and later as Vice Consul.