On October 2, business executives and directors from Cuba and Japan assessed the possibility of increasing commercial cooperation and establishing new agreements, during the Cuba-Japan Economic Conference held over two days in Havana. Participants at the Conference received information on the characteristics of the new Cuban Foreign Investment Law. Photo: Karina Marrón Present at the event were delegates from the Japan-Cuba Parliamentary League in addition to various Japanese business representatives, who discussed key issues with agents from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX) and other Cuban commercial entities. The new mechanisms available to the international market under the current Foreign Investment Law were a crucial issue for the Japanese delegation, which has called for increased trade relations between both countries, particularly in areas such as the fishing, biopharmaceutical and tourism industries. During Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment’s welcoming remarks at the MINCEX protocol headquarters, he stated that the Cuban government is committed to working jointly with Japan to create opportune and relevant projects, which will benefit both countries. We are seeking greater participation of Japanese businesses in Cuba, to increase the flow of tourists to the island and promote Cuban enterprises in Japan, Malmierca commented. He also stated that achieving greater insertion into the Japanese banking and financial sector is a priority for Cuban investors, who consider the Asian market to be an important receptor for exports. Tomoyochi Kondo, President of the Cuba-Japan Economic Conference, urged participants to take advantage of the event, which marks a positive step on the road to increased bilateral trade relations. The Cuban government is committed to stimulating the country’s economy and is implementing various measures in all spheres, including the private sector, to ensure the development necessary to improve the country, he stated. (AIN)
