Fidel Rendon Matienzo
HAVANA, Nov 18 (ACN) The holding today of the VIII session of the Cuba-Italy Business Committee (CICI) at Expocuba, in the context of the XXXVIII Havana International Fair (Fihav 2022), reaffirmed the interest and commitment of both nations in increasing bilateral economic and commercial ties and overcoming adversities and risks, in accordance with the complex moments.
Antonio Luis Carricarte, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Antilles, recalled that for Cuba the European country is the ninth in commercial exchange, the seventh in the issuance of tourists and occupies an important place in collaboration, everything that which is the result of the systematic work and vision of this body created in 2011.
He stressed that 45 Italian branches and 17 mixed companies are located here, but it is also significant that more than 70 of his entities participate in Fihav 2022, at a time of great complexity for the Antillean nation.
He asked the aforementioned business committee to adjust to the current critical economic situation, which entails thinking and acting differently before each business, serving them personally, for example, in problems related to the collection of any debt, a commitment that we reiterate, he affirmed, the country will comply with all your creditors.
Carricarte stressed that the CICI’s work paths and the priorities or main sectors in which their collaboration is required have been defined, and expressed how much they can continue to do in order to increase exports, linkages and import substitution.
At the meeting, Roberto Vellano, Italian ambassador to Cuba, pointed out as an important milestone the holding of this meeting to analyze the difficulties of the Italian business community in the Caribbean country, in order to make their contribution greater, although the significant presence of more of 70 entities at the fair is a sample of the commitment of his nation with the island.
He thanked the Cuban Chamber of Commerce for having created a section dedicated to Italy in its structure, and the local authorities for taking advantage of Fihav 2022 to offer potential foreign investors all the necessary information on the facilities and opportunities offered, for the sake of improve the business environment.
Mario Pozza and Franco Conzato, president and general director of Venicepromex, respectively, internationalization company of the Veneto Chamber System, described the meeting as a major opportunity to strengthen ties with Cuba.
They praised the work of those who are in charge of the business committee and urged their compatriots already settled in Havana to encourage the presence of new Italian entities, since Cuba is a priority.
Elisabbetta Pola, president of the Italian section at the CICI, and Ivonne Delgado, head of the Cuban section, pointed out that in these 11 years of work they have created many experiences in the midst of not a few difficulties, while their mission has been to support the businessmen of both countries, especially in the exchange with the financial and banking sector, in the concretion of joint projects.
They reported that in the new stage of work, which is beginning now, the Business Committee will concentrate its efforts on the exchange of information, on the promotion of projects in the Mariel Special Development Zone, on increasing exportable offers, inserting more Cuban products and services in Italy, and get closer to the new economic players.
Simona Autori, director of the Italian Trade and Cooperation Agency in Havana, mentioned as priorities for efforts and achievements the agri-food, industrial and manufacturing sectors, renewable energy sources, without forgetting the cooperation that in technology transfer, machinery, can offer to Cuba.