Cuban Business Delegation Completes Visit to the United States

Washington –  A business delegation from Cuba concluded today a 12-day visit to the United States, during which it reaffirmed its interest in strengthening economic and trade ties between the two countries, mainly in the maritime and port sector.

The group’s work agenda included activities in Houston and Austin (Texas), New Orleans(Louisiana), Palm Beach, Port Everglades and Tampa (Florida), Norfolk (Virginia) and Washin gton DC.

Diplomatic sources stressed that the tour was conducive to signing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Port Administration of Cuba and the Port of Mobile in Alabama.

The agreement joins four other such agreements signed earlier with the ports of Virginia, New Orleans, Lake Charles and South Louisiana.

Cuban business representatives were received by Kurt Nagle, president and chief executive of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), and Jodi Bond, vice president for the Americas of the US Chamber of Commerce.

They also meet with the Working Group On Cuba of the House of Representatives, which advocates lifting the blockade of the island and normalizing relations between the two countries.

The Cuban delegation took part in the Conference ‘Plan for a Changing Trade’, organized by the AAPA, and nine other business events.

During the exchange, the Cuban delegation discuss the opportunities offered by the country in terms of foreign trade and investment and the potential of the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM).