Russia and Cuba to Further Deepen Bilateral Trade and Economic Relations

 Havana, Nov 14 (ACN) Cuban and Russian government officials stressed in Havana their interest and willingness of both countries to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations and they announced the implementation of important investment in the Cuban metal industry.

During the opening of the Russian pavilion at the 38th Havana International Trade Fair on November 14, Russian entrepreneurs expressed their willingness to expand their businesses on the island, in the presence of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and of Premir Manuel Marrero.

Cuban Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca stressed cooperation links between Moscow and Havana, which he recalled date back to the times of the Soviet Union. He said that bilateral relations must deepen with the encouraging of Russian investment in Cuba to boost the island’s development.

A Cuban delegation is currently in Moscow, headed by deputy premier Ricardo Cabrisas, to take part at the 19th Russia-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission for Economic, Commercial and Scientific-Technical Cooperation, Malmierca said and noted that the two sides are currently working in sectors like energy, industry and food production.

The Cuban government official favored the strengthening and expansion of relations with Russian companies participating at the Fair and added Russia could be an important supplier for Cuba of products like wheat.

Meanwhile, Russian ambassador to Havana Andrei A. Guzkov, expressed his government wish to consolidate collaboration with Cuba and said that cooperation currently targets the sectors of energy, the metal industry, agriculture, healthcare, biopharmaceuticals and information technologies.

Guzkov also referred to the increase of direct flights between the two countries and with them the flow of tourists and the modernization of a Havana metal processing plant and the improvement of the oil processing infrastructure in the locality of Boca de Jaruco to achieve larger oil extraction.

The ambassador also expressed his wish that Cuba attends the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2023 and congratulated the island for the organization of the Havana International Trade Fair.

Boris Y.Titov, delegate of the Russian President for the defense of entrepreneurial rights, said that both nations now open a new chapter in bilateral relations even amidst a process of changes.

He said that if bilateral Cuba-Russia cooperation took place between large companies, now such collaboration takes place between small and medium enterprises; he announced that contacts with Cuban MSMEs have begun because their participation in the economy favors development.
“We are speaking about the supply of furniture, the opening of restaurants and food expenditure stands and wine production; we still have several days ahead for our negotiations.

At the end of the meeting, President Diaz-Canel and Premier Marrero toured the pavilion in which the Russian Trade and Commerce Ministry is exhibiting a large array of goods and services.