Cuba and Japan emphasized their interest in expanding economic and cooperation ties during the first Joint Public-Private Committee meeting between both nations, held yesterday, November 8 in Havana.
This new mechanism, which aims to explore both nations’ business potential, is the result of an initiative proposed by Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fumio Kishida, during his visit to Cuba in May.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex), Ileana Núñez and Yasushi Takase, director general for Latin America and the Caribbean at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, agreed that the event could become a useful tool to expand and strengthen bilateral relations in the spheres of economy, trade and cooperation.
Ileana Núñez noted that the process of updating the country’s economic model currently underway - which also features the creation of an economic and social development program for the period 2016-2020, with a strategic outlook through 2030 - is contributing to revitalizing commercial ties between the two countries.
For his part the Japanese official highlighted the growing interest that Cuba’s new business opportunities are arousing in companies from his country.
The Japanese delegation to the meeting included 44 individuals and 18 private companies, as well as representatives from various ministerial and economic organizations.
Japan participated in the recently concluded 33rd Havana International Trade Fair for the first time with a national pavilion.
