Cuba and Austria Interested in Expanding Bilateral Bonds

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 3 (acn) Cuba and Austria expressed the intention to expand and strengthen bilateral ties in a business forum held on Wednesday in this capital, as part of the official visit of the president of that European nation, Heinz Fischer.

Rodrigo Malmierca, Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, welcomed the presence of Fischer and his accompanying delegation, composed of Wolfgang Brandstetter, Minister of Justice; Christoph Matznetter, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of 26 major Austrian companies.
Malmierca underlined the good relations maintained between both peoples and governments, which this year mark seven decades of their establishment, and acknowledged the support of Austria in the Cuban struggle for the elimination of the blockade imposed by the United States, which unfortunately still persists, he stressed.
He expressed the importance of this business forum, because both parties are aware of the large existing potential of bilateral trade, pointed out the minister also in the presence of Orlando Hernandez, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cuba.
It was known that links between the two economies are not yet significant, due to limitations imposed by the remoteness of that market and mutual ignorance of business opportunities, which both countries have.
The Cuban minister highlighted the favorable context for closer ties, from the prestige of Austria in various fields of economic development and new business opportunities open in Cuba, following Law 118 on Foreign Investment, approved in March, 2014, to stimulate foreign capital flows in 11 key sectors.
We are convinced that we can do much more to increase the presence of Austrian products and services in the country, in areas of interest such as transport, energy and industry in general, specified Malmierca.
In this regard, he said it is good news the signing between the two chambers of a memorandum of understanding and on Wednesday afternoon of an agreement that will open new opportunities to access financing for trade and investment.
Fischer said he was convinced that this forum will be successful and urged the parties to know each other more in order to identify joint opportunities.
The island's mission is made up of 26 companies in the sectors of construction, transport, energy, the environment, health, research, food and agriculture industry and trade.
As part of his two-day agenda in Cuba, the dignitary of Austria will hold official talks with Army General Raul Castro, President of the councils of State and Ministers.
He will also give a lecture at the Main Lecture Hall of the University of Havana, where he will address issues referred to the role of his country in the European Union, and he is expected to visit the Museum of the Revolution in this capital.