Cuba and Curacao Interested in Strengthening Commercial Ties

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 10 (acn) The interest in strengthening commercial bonds between Cuba and Curacao was highlighted in this capital, in the context of the visit to the island of Eugene Rhuggenaath, Minister of Economic Development of that country, accompanied by representatives of 20 companies from various sectors.

In a business forum held at the Hotel Nacional, Omar Fernandez, secretary general of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of the current mission, composed of representatives of companies from areas such as transport, manufacturing, logistics, finance and energy.
As an example of the progress achieved from the bilateral meetings held in 2015, Fernandez mentioned the signing on Thursday of a memorandum of understanding between the Curinde Company of Curacao and Cuba's Comercial Cupet S.A., which reflects the intention of both parties with regard to the execution of joint business and investment works.
Also signed on Thursday was a cooperation agreement between the Chambers of Commerce of Cuba and Curacao, an important tool towards contributing to the development of relations, pointed out the Cuban official.
However, he acknowledged the need to continue working on identifying new business opportunities, noting the wide investment possibilities opened in the Cuban nation, as part of the process of updating its economic model.
Rhuggenaath expressed the interest of Curacao, a territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in developing stronger partnerships with Cuba, based on existing cultural and friendship ties.
According to Ileana Nunez, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, bilateral trade is not significant yet, although she said that the first steps for its development are already being taken, and cited the signing on Wednesday of a memorandum of understanding between her ministry and the Ministry of Economic Development of Curacao.
Nunez commented on the existence of cooperation in sports and that works in the fields of energy and public finances are already in an early-stage.
She mentioned that there are other possibilities for expanding ties in tourism and maritime and port logistics, linked to technological innovation.
The other members of the visiting delegation are Billy Jonckheer, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Curacao, and Christina van der Biezen, Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation of that country.