In Cuba President Ollanta Humala to Expand Commercial Bonds

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 18 (acn) Ollanta Humala, President of Peru, said today in Havana that his visit to Cuba is aimed at expanding economic and trade ties between his country and the Caribbean nation.

Upon his arrival at the Jose Marti International Airport, the Peruvian President expressed the interest to set goals to strengthen bilateral trade and deepen partnerships in areas such as medicine, education and sports.
Humala, who was received by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Rogelio Sierra and officials of the Embassy of Peru to Havana, is scheduled to meet with Raul Castro, President of the Councils of State and Ministers.
The head of state confirmed to reporters that a memorandum of understanding and an agreement to deepen existing business relations and extend them to other sectors, as well as enhance the positioning of Peruvian products in the domestic market, and vice versa, will be signed during his visit to the Caribbean nation.
Humala also stressed the importance of learning from Cuban experiences in the field of sports, considering that his country will be hosting the 18th Pan-American Games in 2019.
He announced that next week a delegation of Peruvian entrepreneurs will travel to Havana to explore business opportunities in Cuba, "which is taking important steps for business expansion."
In another moment of his brief exchange with reporters, he highlighted the satisfaction of being able to visit President Raul Castro, and did not rule out a meeting with Fidel Castro, historic leader of the Cuban Revolution.
While referring to the announcement of the upcoming visit of U.S. President Barack Obama to Cuba, on March 21 and 22, Humala said that "it will be a historic moment for bilateral relationship."
He said that the Cuban government is on the right path, and added that Latin America wants to cast off "the shackles of the past" like the unjust economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by Washington on the Caribbean nation for more than half a century.
During his short stay in Havana, which ends in the evening hours of Thursday, Humala will also pay tribute to national hero Jose Marti at the Memorial in Havana named after the Apostle.