Fully committed to ensuring consumer satisfaction, the businessman noted that protecting the environment within the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM) is a top priority for the company.

According to Prado the pioneering mega project will have all the necessary infrastructure, space and government support to successfully operate within the zone.

The joint venture is composed of Dutch company Unilever N.V. and the Cuban Intersuchel S.A., authorized to operate in the ZEDM, with a total investment of over 35 million dollars.

According to Prado the future plant in Mariel will create 300 new jobs and offer Cuban consumers quality, internationally renowned personal care and household cleaning products.

One of the company’s immediate challenges will be the construction of its plant in 2017, which will manufacture a wide range of hygiene and cleaning products, under the brands Sedal, Rexona, OMO, Lux and Close-UP, among others.

The new entity will also incorporate innovative management systems and safe technology.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING

In an unpredictable world, suffering from the effects of climate change and facing a rising global population, Unilever supports sustainable living, enabling the company to grow in harmony with the environment.

As outlined in its Sustainable Living Plan, Unilever’s business model is based on the use of sustainably sourced materials, a commitment to consumers’ well-being, improving working conditions and opportunities as well as promoting diversity and equal opportunity.

Beyond its commitment to sustainable growth for the benefit of future generations, Unilever boasts over 300 registered brands, has retail outlets in 190 countries, with over two billion daily consumers, sees an annual turnover of more than $50 billion dollars and has 172,000,000 employees worldwide.

Established over a century ago, Unilever believes that establishing itself in the ZEDM will benefit trade relations between Cuba and the Netherlands.

Given the attraction of the ZEDM’s preferential tax policy and other benefits for investors, the zone – strategically designed to contribute to the development of the island’s economy – is also primed to receive large-scale companies.

Considering that Unilever brands are well-known in Cuba given their established presence in the national market, nationwide sales of products are predicted to rise given growing demand by the population and the expansion of tourism.

(Granma)

Working along these well-defined lines, the Brazilian company, founded over 70 years ago, has been operating for more than four decades in over twenty countries across Latin America and the world, including in the fields of real estate, environmental engineering, power generation and the chemical, petrochemical and agriculture industries.

After introducing itself to Cuba in 2008, Odebrecht began its operations on the island participating in the construction of the Port of Mariel, which was inaugurated in 2014. Just over two weeks ago, the company officially became one of the first authorized to operate in the Mariel Special Zone Development (ZEDM), located in Artemisa, 45 kilometers from Havana.

FROM CONTRACTOR TO AUTHORIZED USER

According to Hueb, Odebrecht considers itself part of the history of the ZEDM and hopes to continue to be. He notes, “We arrived in Mariel when the Zone was just a dream, the credit was arranged with Brazil and moves began on the works, having professionally trained almost eight thousand people recruited from nearby areas.”

As such, according to the director of the South American firm, they consider themselves the first company to set foot in Mariel and it is an honor to now become one of the authorized user companies of the zone they helped to build, together with Cuba.

Characterized by its decentralized structure, providing integrated and innovative solutions, Odebrecht initially approached Cuba to participate in works on the Port of Mariel, at which time it began to asses the strong potential of the country and understand the process of updating the economy.

As Mauro Hueb recalls, the popular consultation, that the country’s economic policy guidelines were submitted to, caught their attention, and they discovered that Cuba was preparing for future economic growth with a correctly supported, solid and serious base.

“There is certainty that, as has happened until now, the ZEDM will attract investors from every region of the world. In fact, in recent months, many leaders and businesspeople from various countries of the world have visited,” he stated.

In addition, Odebrecht’s director in Cuba highlights the number and expertise of Cuban personnel, from laborers and technicians to professionals and administrative staff. “We have been in other countries, but the workers here are impressive because they are highly distinguished, in terms of their educational level, discipline and facility for learning.”

ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

Supported by the fiscal incentives outlined, very clearly, in the Decree Law No. 313, on the Mariel Special Development Zone, Odebrecht will provide services to other international investors arriving at the ZEDM, as the global organization focuses on engineering and construction.

Similarly, he stressed Odebrecht’s potential to offer a complete range of services, with the addition of further activities demanded by customers: financial support, feasibility studies, commissioning and assisted operations.

Regarding other interests within Mariel, Hueb reported that a request has been submitted for a project in the plastics industry, using either entirely foreign capital, or a joint enterprise, an area in which Odebrecht has extensively experience, particularly in the production of resins.

In this regard, investment in the ZEDM for the treatment of industrial waste is being considered, in what would be an environmental initiative to convert waste into water which can be used in factories, Hueb explains.

Given that one of the premises of the country is import substitution, the director highlights that efforts should be directed toward the domestic market, as it would be of great benefit if Cuba were to produce what is consumed locally, while part of this production could be exported to other parts of the region.

According to Hueb, what investors seek is just this: to add value to their products, have a domestic consumer market, and be able to export their goods to other destinations. With the correct design, the ZEDM will meet the logistical requirements to create competitive products at a very low cost.

Beyond Mariel, Odebrecht Infrastructure will soon begin construction of a new terminal at the José Martí International Airport, a huge project which will double the capacity for international flights.

In this regard, Mauro Hueb stressed that this development may not be sufficient to coping with the expected increase in tourist numbers going forwards.

(Granma)