Cuba and Turkey to Increase Bilateral Trade

Havana, Cuba, Apr 24 (acn) Cuba and Turkey expressed on Monday in Havana their interest in increasing bilateral trade currently not enough in face of the broad potential in sectors like industry, telecommunications, tourism and agriculture.

Omar Fernandez, General Secretary of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce informed the Turkish delegation made up of over 40 companies, on the business opportunities opened on the island aimed at strengthening foreign investment and replacing imports and increasing exports.

He pointed out that the national portfolio currently includes the bank and financial sectors for the first time with the objective of acceding to financing sources, management techniques and information analysis in addition to new products and international financial markets.

Fernandez referred to the existing possibilities in the sectors of agriculture, industries and telecommunications for the development of software and scientific technological parks.

He pointed out that the current Turkish delegation complements the Cuban mission held on September of 2016 to that country where a commitment from both sides were ratified in creating strategic alliances.

According to the General Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, there are no projects with Turkish capital in the country despite both nations having a reciprocal promotion and protection of investments agreement since 1997.

Mustafa Cikrikcioglu, Vice President of the Council of the Association of Turkish Exports assured that the current visit to Cuba is aimed at strengthening cooperation ties with the island and coincided that the bilateral commercial exchange is still not enough before the opportunities offered by both sides.

He commented that with the aid of Turkish Airlines which inaugurated flights to Havana last December, his institution is already organizing commercial encounters towards Latin America region that has a potential for natural resources and its young and dynamic population.

Berris Ekinci, Turkish ambassador to Cuba expressed that these exchanges could result in the near future and mentioned the potential in areas like health tourism and biotechnology.

The visitors, held at the Hotel Nacional, learned on the details of the new legal framework approved to regulate and encourage the participation of foreign capital in key sectors of the Cuban economy.