Currently the country is engaged in keeping market diversification, as well as increasing trade links with various countries through international commercial gathering level to make known Cuba’s economic potentials.

On the other hand, the island’s business opportunities were known at the 21st Havana International Trade Fair 2003 (FIHAV 2003) after making contracts worth over $ 160 M with 43 firms being 34 from the United States.

In this regard, Cuban President Fidel Castro reported the attendance of over 1 290 enterprises at the Havana trade gathering being 71 firms of North-American origin (from 19 USA States) as indicative that Cuba is a reliable and serious partner in to do business with.

The numerous applications received to attend the fair plays down rumours of the impossibility to do business with Cuba given it’s not a serious partner, said Fidel who added the island makes a great effort to fulfil the business obligations acquired.

Being termed by the Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage as another prove of the Cuban people’s resistance, the fair is considered here as the major trade marketplace and an exemplary witness of the growing economic, trade and even social changes that have taken place on the island in the last two decades.

The trade fair enables Cuba to make its own way through the world, improve and increase trade and economic possibilities despite US blockade imposed to the island for over 40 years, however, 71 US firms and 153 businessmen first participated at Havana’s fair to do business with Alimport, local top food enterprise, showing Cuba is considered a loyal, reliable and serious business partner.

During the fair’s days, Alimport made business contracts worth over $ 160 M dollars which most important weight was provided by US agricultural food for the Caribbean island.

Pedro Álvarez, president of Alimport, pointed out that accords signed despite numerous trade restrictions US government has imposed to the island will certainly benefit in the first place the two peoples and agro-industrial sectors.

Nevertheless it’s not bad to clarify trade partnership between US and Cuba does not convey by no means any easing on lifting Washington’s blockade kept against the island. They do reflect the US entrepreneurs’ interest in trading and marketing with the Caribbean island being the latter, on the other hand, interested in supporting lifting US trade restrictions.

This year, trade accords were signed with New Zeeland, China, Brazil and Italy among them, in addition to letters of understanding worth $ 17 M dollars.

Although it’s true that the number of this year’s attendees is less than the one reported at the previous gathering, business volume is significant and enabled Cuba to show a dynamic economy in process of growing and developing.

Cuban market is increasingly providing wealth, services, technologies and qualified manpower.

As a collateral activity the 3rd meeting of Investment Promotional Agencies was held to boosting the development of international economic and business ties between the Grand Caribbean nations with the host country.

On the other hand, the Grand Caribbean Managing Forum, pertaining to the Association of the Caribbean States (AEC) which 4th edition was held as a collateral activity at the recently concluded ExpoCaribe Fair performed in the host city of Santiago de Cuba, joined regional businessmen in order to identify business opportunities and favor rapprochement amid key suppliers and assess the process of regional international process.

This meeting was closely related to other two AEC events namely the 4th Forum of Trade Promoters and the 12th Meeting of the Committee for Trade Development and Foreign Relations of the said association.

ExpoCaribe, the Caribbean’s trade marketplace, joined businessmen coming from
31 countries and provided space for commercial exchange amid regional partners and those from Asia and Europe.

Before the world’s unstable economies facing market scarcity, the island seeks to find new alternatives to increase its trade links not only with regional firms but with the world’s as well providing market positioning regardless US blockade and trade restrictions.

Source: Prensa Latina

Cubasí Translation Staf