Miami November 18, 2016
Lafito Industrial Free Zone (“LIFZ”) adds prestigious partner.
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, November 1, 2016 – GB Group, a diversified group of industrial and trading companies which operates Lafito Industrial Free Zone, announced today the signing of a long term lease agreement with Reliable Source Industrial (“RSI”) of Taiwan. When completed, RSI will occupy over 50,000 square meters of industrial manufacturing facilities utilizing state-of-the-art technologies. RSI expects to employ over 5,000 workers and will have the first LEED Silver certified manufacturing facilities in Haiti.
“We are pleased to welcome RSI as the anchor tenant of LIFZ and in Haiti. RSI is an ideal partner for our park. We share the same vision and principles for bringing value to the communities we work in. We are honored that such highly respected global activewear apparel manufacturer, one which adheres to the highest level of product quality, manufacturing standards, social responsibility, and business integrity, has chosen Lafito as its first manufacturing location outside of Asia. We are particularly very proud of making this huge step towards creating employment opportunities for thousands of local residents and spur further economic development in the area,” said Reuven Bigio, CEO of GB Group.
LIFZ, which is located within the integrated economic zone of Lafito Global, offers world class infrastructure to support global manufacturers by providing all of the services necessary to have highly efficient production facilities. Strategically located adjacent to Port Lafito, the most modern and efficient port in Haiti, RSI will benefit from the significant investments that have been made in Port Lafito, LIFZ and Lafito Global.
Lafito Industrial Free Zone is a uniquely positioned manufacturing and logistics platform dedicated to offering long-term competitive access to regional markets. All within a safe and autonomous environment, LIFZ has built a Tier III data center, a 25 MW power plant that will provide reliable and cost efficient power, and other infrastructure to enable global manufacturers to have all services they are accustomed to at other facilities throughout the world. As Lafito Global expands it will add residential, commercial and recreational facilities to further enhance the experience for international and local residents alike.
“As a global manufacturer, LIFZ enables us to optimize our supply chain, leverage Haiti’s proximity to our North American brand partners, utilize the abundance of available labor and maximize the infrastructure and security offered by Lafito. We are excited to be one of Haiti’s newest corporate citizens and believe our presence will better the lives of thousands of Haitians and help elevate the local apparel manufacturing sector. We are pleased to be the anchor client at LIFZ and look forward to being part of this exciting development in Haiti,” said Amy Hsu, RSI CEO.
For more information on Lafito Industrial Free Zone and GB Group, please click here.
About Reliable Source Industrial (RSI):
Founded in 1972, RSI is a world-class activewear apparel manufacturing and services leader. RSI has factories located in 6 countries, employs over 10,000 associates, and produces over 50 million units a year, including cutting-edge premium activewear products. The company has built a reputation for delivering innovation, reliability, and accountability to its clients and partners, and is a recognized leader in corporate social responsibility in the countries where it operates.
For further information, please click here.
About GB Group:
GB Group is a leading, diversified group of industrial and trading companies in the Caribbean, with operations concentrated in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Panama and St. Maarten and offices in the United States. Its operations are in the construction, consumer goods, infrastructure, energy, logistics and trading industries. GB Group collaborates with more than 4,000 employees and embraces managers from more than 15 countries companywide. GB Group has strategic alliances and/or partnerships with some of the world’s top business organizations.