Mexican companies to explore Cuban market

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 22 (acn) A group of entrepreneurs from the Mexican state of Quintana Roo will travel to Cuba to assess potential investments in a near future.

The delegation of ProMéxico Quintana Roo will lead the first trade mission to Cuba. It is made up by five state enterprises focused on hotel procurement, finished goods, information technology, aeronautical services and a producer of Persian limes.
The trade mission will include business meetings with potential buyers, consulting on issues of international trade and transportation funding for participating companies.
In addition to this trade mission, ProMéxico also promotes the participation of 28 Mexican companies at the International Fair of Havana, to be held from November 2 to 7.
Sergio Riveroll Andapia, director of ProMéxico Quintana Roo, said this trade mission and participation at the fair in Havana comes in the wake of the interest of Mexican entrepreneurs to venture into the island, after it became known that two national companies were the first authorized by the Cuban government to invest in the Special Development Zone of Mariel.
The Quintana Roo companies supported by ProMéxico to venture into Cuba have export potential, primarily focused on the services sector and specifically in addressing needs and requirements of hotel industry, Riveroll Andapia noted.
The commercial mission is also supported by the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE by its Spanish acronym), an organization that has promoted trade relations with the island long before it aroused international interest in establishing relations with Cuba.
A natural market
Rodrigo Contreras Perez , COMCE director for Latin America and the Caribbean, said in an interview that Cuba is a natural market for Mexico, especially for Quintana Roo, not only because of geographical proximity, but by the unique opportunity for all companies providing services to the hotel industry in Cancun and the Riviera Maya.
The Comce independently drives the incursion of other Mexican firms in Cuba such as Kola Loka, Empaques Mayan and Corporativo Enciso, specializing in customs services.
Contreras Pérez added that part of his job is to create better conditions for trade and, therefore, also promote the opening of a credit line for the Mexican exporter with the Mexican Foreign Trade Bank (Bancomext), removing technical barriers to the importation and recognition of health products in both countries.
Others in line
Along with the five companies participating in the trade mission later this month, there are other companies on the waiting list related to industrialized foods and chemicals, as well as Mexican companies specialized in ferry operations to transport cargo and passengers.