VOA常速英语2017--美国资助海地企业家（在线收听）

The U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and the Pan American Development Foundation, known as PADF, celebrated the success of dozens of Haitian entrepreneurs supported by the LEAD program at a large exposition at the Karibe Hotel in Port-au-Prince earlier this month.

美国国际开发署以及泛美发展基金会(PADF)庆祝了数十名由“有效利用直接投资”项目支持的企业家，庆祝地点是太子港(Port-au-Prince)凯莱布酒店的某大型展会，庆祝时间是本月初。

Through the LEAD program (which stands for Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments), USAID has provided 45 Haitian and diaspora-led entrepreneurs with the capital and technical support needed to grow their business. Implemented by the PADF, the program supports long-term economic growth in the region.

通过“有效利用直接投资项目”(LEAD, Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investments)，美国国籍开发署为45位海地企业家和海外企业家提供了他们发展企业所需要的资金和技术支持。该项目由泛美发展基金会施行，支持着该地区的长期经济发展。

Each company was awarded a grant after successfully completing a business plan competition. Together, these enterprises have created more than 13,600 jobs in Haiti and are on track to create a total of 18,000 jobs by the end of the year.

美国公司都能获得拨款，前提是要成功完成一次商业计划竞赛。这些公司总共为海地创造了1.36多万份工作，并有望于今年年底之前将这一数字提至1.8万。

Since 2011, USAID's LEAD Program has invested $7.4 million in businesses in various sectors of the Haitian economy, unlocking $12.7 million in private capital. LEAD has also delivered more than 10,000 hours of training to entrepreneurs to build their capacity and improve business operations. Together, LEAD supported businesses -- from the sanitary paper production plant to the solid waste processing plant, have generated nearly $28 million in sales.

自2011年以来，美国国籍开发署的“有效利用直接投资项目”就为海地经济的各个领域投入了740万美元，释放了1270万美元的私人资本。“有效利用直接投资项目”还向企业家展开了1万多个小时的培训，以构建他们的能力，提升其商业运营情况。由“有效利用直接投资项目”支持的企业——从卫生纸生产厂到固体废弃物处理场不一而足——一共产生了近2800万的销售额。

It's inspiring to be in a room with so many dynamic and creative Haitian entrepreneurs, says Nadia Cherrouk, PADF country director. Their businesses are a testament to what can be achieved through hard work and persistence. Through LEAD, we are helping Haitians realize their business goals and creating a network of innovators. These entrepreneurs are paving the way to a more prosperous Haiti.

与这么有活力、有创造力的海地共聚一堂，让人备受鼓舞，泛美发展基金会的地区总监纳迪亚(Nadia Cherrouk)如是说道。他们运营的企业证明了通过辛勤的工作和坚持能够实现怎样的成就。通过“有效利用直接投资项目”，我们正在助力海地人民实现自己的企业目标，创建一个创新者的网络。这些企业家正在为海地更加繁荣的未来铺路。

The event included a business-to-business networking session to help the entrepreneurs forge important relationships with financial institutions, service providers and sector experts. USAID's LEAD project aims to attract investments in Haitian small and medium-sized enterprises and increase the development impact or remittances.

这次活动还包括企业对企业联络的环节，为的是帮助企业家们与金融机构、服务提供商、行业专家之间构建重要的关系。美国国际开发署的“有效利用直接投资项目”只在为海地的中小企业吸引投资，提升海地的影响力，提升海地的收入。

We congratulate the entrepreneurs here today, said Brian Shukan, Chargé d'Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Haiti. You are the leaders of Haiti's new economy. The LEAD project's investment in these innovative entrepreneurs has unlocked millions in private capital. As their businesses grow, we anticipate that they will continue to attract financing from banks and equity investors, driving further economic development.

今天，我们在这里祝贺各位企业家，美国驻海地大使馆大使布莱恩(Brian Shukan)如是说道。你们是海地新经济的领导者。“有效利用直接投资项目”对这些富有创造力的企业家的投资已经释放了上千万的私人资本。随着这些企业的发展，我们预计，他们将能够继续吸引来自银行和股权投资者的资助，从而进一步驱动海地的经济发展。