Treasury to advise Haiti on tax collection

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Under Secretary Lael Brainard met top Haitian leaders on Thursday to discuss the upcoming deployment of a technical assistance team to tighten financial management in Haiti.

During a visit to Haiti to discuss reconstruction efforts, Brainard said the Treasury team will help Haiti toughen tax collection, improve financial accountability and debt issuance and help establish an insurance sector.

Haiti, hit by a severe earthquake in January, is struggling to restore businesses and rebuild with aid from around the world including multilateral development banks.

"Treasury will continue to support Haiti's reconstruction and growth through multilateral efforts, including comprehensive debt relief, microfinance initiatives, housing and sustainable energy solutions," Brainard said in a statement issued by Treasury.

(Reporting by Glenn Somerville; Editing by James Dalgleish)