As has become customary, the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM) took advantage of the Havana International trade fair to present investors approved during the last year to operate in the Zone.
A total of 11 have been accepted since the end of 2015 to date, while the ZEDM office is currently analyzing more than 20 proposals.
Among those approved are Unilever Suchel S.A., to produce toiletries and cleaning products; the Brazilian infrastructure construction and engineering company, COI, part of the Odebrecht Group; the Banco Financiero Internacional S.A.; and Industrial Biotecnológico CIGB-Mariel S.A.
Arriving from Asia are the South Korean Arco 33 S.A., specialized in medical disposables - basically syringes; and Thai Binh Global Investment Corporation S.A. from Vietnam, which will produce sanitary pads and disposable diapers.
Additionally approved are the French Bouygues Construction Cuba, as well as CMA CGM LOGISTICS, operating as CARILOG under an management contract with the Cuban company Servicios Logísticos Mariel.
Completing the list are two new operators: Womy Equipment Rental B.V., which with entirely Dutch capital will focus on ground preparation with heavy equipment; and joint ventures with Spanish partners Financiera Iberoamericana S.A. and Tecnologías Constructivas S.A.
During the presentation, Wendy Miranda, director of coordination and documentation at the ZEDM, reported that the first production facility, the 100% Belgian owned BDC TEC has scheduled its start-up to manufacture sensors and electrical service panels.
Accepted thus far to operate in the Mariel Special Development Zone are one International Economic Association; ten foreign-owned companies; four joint ventures; and four Cuban state enterprises.
