Dominican Trade Mission Explores Opportunities in Cuba

HAVANA, Cuba, Jun 27 (acn) Representatives of 28 companies belonging to the Free Trade Zone of the Dominican Republic, the largest mission organized by that country, explore business opportunities in Cuba seeking to strengthen bilateral economic ties.

In a bi-national business forum, held today at the Melia Habana Hotel, Odalis Seijo, vice-president of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, stressed the significance of this delegation to identify areas for joint cooperation towards increasing and diversifying existing trade exchanges.
She said that during working days -until July 2-, visitors will receive information about the business atmosphere in Cuba, for both trade and investment, and the portfolio opportunities, consisting of 326 projects to attract foreign capital.
Cesar Dargam, Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs and Trade Negotiations of the Dominican Republic, highlighted that the current mission gives continuity to a series of meetings held between productive sectors of the two markets.
He underlined that in April the two countries signed an agreement to establish a joint study group to allow deepening trade relations, and announced that this work is expected to be completed before the end of this year and will determine the way forward.
At the meeting, Jose Manuel Torres, executive vice-president of the Dominican Association of Free Zones, expressed the interest in linking the Cuban potential in the field of knowledge and productive development of his country, in sectors such as manufacturing.
At the end of the meeting, the Chamber of Commerce of Cuba and the National Council of Free Zones signed a cooperation agreement with the aim of increasing exchanges and diversify existing business relationships.
Comprised of areas such as textile manufacturing, shoe manufacturing, electronics assembly, medical products, tobacco processing and telecommunications, the delegation will tour the Mariel Special Development Zone.
The visit coincides with the participation of a Cuban mission of import companies in the fair RD Export 2016, under way in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.