Cuba has called for Latin American and Caribbean vision in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX), Rodrigo Malmierca, who heads the Cuban delegation to the 36th session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), which concluded Friday.

The Cuban representative stressed that the main challenge is to transform the commitments made by the international community into reality. Malmierca announced that Cuban authorities have offered to host the next session of ECLAC, to be held in 2018.

During his stay in Mexico, the Minister met with Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Claudia Ruiz Massieu and the Mexican Secretary of Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo.

At these meetings, they discussed the state of relations between both countries and about their mutual interest to continue to boost economic, trade and cooperation.

(Radio Habana Cuba)

Malmierca and Pritzker inauguratedthe second meeting betweenofficials from the two countries on the implementationand scopeof existingregulations,which will conclude thisafternoon, at the headquartersof the Commerce Department, just a few meters fromthe White House.

Experts from both countries will seek ways to overcome the limitations that remain and achieve concrete agreements that would make the process started on December 17, 2014, irreversible.

“We are not naive,” the Cuban minister said, “we know that all this (the dismantling of the blockade) poses political problems for the administration, especially in an election year. But there is strong support not only in U.S. society but in Congress, from members of Congress from both parties, to continue moving forward.”

Since William Clinton signed the Helms-Burton Act in 1996, the President of the United States has lost the authority to completely end the blockade against Cuba, but there remains room for maneuver.

The President can issue executive licenses that transform the implementation of the blockade, as Obama has done on three occasions in January and September 2015 and in January this year.

If we analyze the measures taken thus far, Malmierca added, we can conclude that they are positive and go in the right direction, but we must also recognize that they are not enough. The most essential elements of the blockade are still in force.

To mention just one example, he noted that since December 2014, six fines have been applied to financial institutions for trading with Cuba, worth close to two billion dollars.

The persecution of Cuban transactions and the banning of the use of the dollar by the island have a deterrent effect on banks and companies around the world that profoundly affects the Cuban economy, he added.

Meanwhile, Pritzker noted that taken together, the regulatory changes implemented by the Obama administration have allowed for trade and economic engagement across a wide range of areas, including environmental protection and energy efficiency; telecommunications; agricultural production; disaster prevention; education; and supplies and equipment to the Cuban private sector.

In recent months, department specialists have met with business leaders across the country, she said, adding that it is clear that they want to do business with Cuba. She commented that Cuba could help with some of the challenges in this respect, claiming that the requirement for Cubans to be contracted through state bodies and difficulties in identifying relevant Cuban laws and regulations were a hindrance.

Cuba does not apply any coercive measures against U.S. companies or businesspeople. In fact, as Minister Malmierca told the dozens of businesspeople gathered at the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, February 16, they are welcome to do business on the island.

Pritzker demonstrated particular interest in the changes that will be considered at the next Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba.

Malmierca responded that the Congress will seek, among other things, to define the priority sectors of the economy for the country’s long-term development.

“The most complex issue is that we want all these changes to be implemented without affecting the population, we do not want to apply shock measures or measures that may have a negative effect.”

Among the areas to be clearly defined, he said, are the role of the market in the Cuban economy and the role of foreign investment in the economic development of the country.
“That is to say we will seek to further consolidate what has already been decided, which is an irreversible path.”

“All the measures we are adopting, and which were sovereignly chosen long before December 17, 2014, I’m sure, in some way, will also contribute to making the decisions we are making together more feasible,” he concluded.

(Granma)

During his visit, Minister Malmierca will be received by his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, who will jointly inaugurate the second meeting between representatives of both countries to discuss the scope and limitations of recently announced modifications of the blockade policy, as well as their impact on bilateral economic-commercial relations.

Malmierca will also meet with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as well as representatives from the country’s business, political and academic sectors.

The Cuban minister is also scheduled to visit Virginia, on the invitation of state Governor, Terry McAuliffe.

(Granma)

During the inauguration of a business forum in Havana attended by entities from both nations, Gabriel highlighted the updating of Cuba’s economic model which includes a Portfolio of Foreign Investment Opportunities. In this sense, the German official expressed his country’s wiliness to launch a process to promote bilateral relations which will develop over the coming years.

In this regard, the deputy foreign minister signed a memorandum of understanding with Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, on the opening of a business office in Havana which will help to encourage German business and investment in Cuba.

“We want to improve and put Germany’s political and economic relations with Cuba on a new, solid base.” The German delegation’s visit reflects our interest and the opportunities we perceive in relations between the two countries, he added.

Around 60 German businesses attending the event are affiliated with the biotechnology, agriculture and industry sectors. Also present were global firms such as Volks wagen, Bosch and Siemens, as well as a large representation of small and medium-sized businesses.

During the forum which took place in Cuba’s Hotel Nacional, Rodrigo Malmierca emphasized, “There are many sectors of the economy in which we can collaborate with German companies, whether through trade and investments, or mutually beneficial ventures.”

(Granma)