Haiti’s electronics sector was largely destroyed by a series of UN embargoes beginning in 1993 and the economy has remained stagnant ever since then. However, two tablet companies, Surtab and Handxom, aim to utilize Haiti’s large workpool and have started manufacturing  a new brand of seven-inch Android tablets in the country.  The tablets are being sold direct to various Haitian government ministries and made available for retail through Digicel.

A new pair of tablet companies are setting up in an unexpected place: Haiti. Surtab and Handxom SA both began production last month on a new brand of seven-inch Android tablets which are being sold direct to various Haitian government ministries and made available for retail through Digicel. Both founded by europeans (from Belgium and Denmark respectively) with the help of development funds, the companies are hoping to bring new life to the stagnant Hatitian economy, still reeling from the 2010 earthquake that left more than a million and a half homeless.