From 31 August to 6 September, two Cuba-Türkiye Business Forums were held in Izmir, which included participation in the 93rd edition of the International Fair of that city, and in Istanbul, with the holding of the 2nd Session of the Bilateral Business Committee. Both forums were attended by the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, 20 Cuban companies and the Cuban Embassy. Chambers of Commerce of Turkey, DEIK and more than thirty Turkish companies interested in developing and establishing economic relations with Cuba were also present.
The 93rd edition of the Izmir International Fair opened on 31 August with speeches by Ozgur Volcan Agar, Deputy Minister of Trade, Suleyman Elban, Governor of Izmir, Cemil Tugay, Mayor of Izmir, Ahmed Fikret Killeci, Vice-President of the Turkish Exporters Association (TIM) and Ender Yorganciar, Vice-President of the Union of Chambers and Export Products of Turkey (TOBB). In his speech, the Mayor of Izmir mentioned the participation of Cuba, with some 20 companies, as the guest of honour at this edition.
Turkish speakers outlined Türkiye's main economic performance and objectives. They prioritised increasing exports, import substitution, increasing investment and decreasing inflation for the benefit of their people.
The countries present at this year's Izmir Fair were: Palestine, Tajikistan, Oman, Malaysia, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Tunisia, Somalia, Iraq, Bangladesh and Cuba.
The Izmir Fair is considered the oldest fair in Türkiye, popular, cultural and multi-sectoral and served as a reference for the development of other fairs in Türkiye. This edition was dedicated to information and communication technologies, with exhibitions of the most important computer applications of Turkish companies on the market, the use of artificial intelligence in different sectors and the digitalisation of government management. For Cuban companies, it is an undeniable opportunity to participate in business forums organised by business and sectoral associations based in Izmir, previously contacted by the Cuban diplomatic mission in Türkiye.
A meeting was also held with the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, chaired by Oguz Ozkardes, Vice President and member of the Board of Directors, and senior executives of the Chamber. On the Cuban side, Omar de Jesús Fernández, Secretary General of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Alejandro F. Díaz Palacios, Cuban Ambassador, Inalvis Bonachea, Director of Trade Policy for Europe of MINCEX, and representatives of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and the Cuban diplomatic mission in Türkiye participated.
Both parties made a presentation on the current economic scenario of both countries and the priorities and potentialities identified for the development of economic, commercial and financial ties between the two nations. This was followed by the signing of the cooperation agreement which updates the agreement signed in 1994.
During the presentation and in the speeches made by the Cuban side, the Havana International Fair was promoted. Letters of invitation were handed over and in the bilateral meetings the businessmen also promoted the event, highlighting the importance of Turkish participation in the 40th edition of FIHAV. A total of 34 bilateral meetings were held.
Institutional meeting with the Aegean Exporters Association (TIM)
For Turkiye, the meeting was chaired by Jak Eskinazi, Chief Coordinator, and was attended by Yalcin Ertan, ferrous and non-ferrous materials sector, Mehmet Ali Isik, nuts, Bedri Girit, fisheries sector, poultry and egg production, dairy and red meat; Hikmet Gungor, paper and forestry products sector. The secretary general of the Aegean Exporters Association Cumhur Osbirakmaz also spoke. DEIK was represented by Serpili Ata, Director of the Business Committees with Latin America and the Caribbean.
In her speeches, she mentioned the excellent occasion that the meeting represented for the development of bilateral trade relations, reiterating the special interest of the Turkish side in developing links in health and tourism. The secretary general of the association provided information on the performance of Turkish exports by sector, mentioning some of the product groups in which they are world leaders.
It was also reported that membership of the association is compulsory. Any exporting company must belong to TIM and join the relevant sectoral association. The organisation also promotes products and services at national level and organises the participation of its members in local and international events.
Participating from the Cuban side were Ambassador Alejandro Díaz Palacios, Omar de Jesús Fernández, Secretary General of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, Inalvis Bonachea, Director of Europe at MINCEX and Aurelio Mollineda, Director General of GECOMEX, and officials from the Chamber of Commerce and the Cuban diplomatic mission.
Dr. Alejadro F. Díaz Palacios, Cuban Ambassador, made a brief presentation on the visits of Cuban leaders in the last two years and the signing of relevant documents that guarantee the legal framework to advance in the development of bilateral economic relations. For his part, Jesús Fernández, Secretary General of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, gave a brief overview of the Cuban economy and business opportunities in Cuba.
Subsequently, a bilateral meeting took place between the different Cuban and Turkish companies participating in the meeting with the aim of identifying the existing business possibilities between the different sectors of their competences.
II Session of the Cuba-Turkiye Business Committee
The II Session of the Cuba-Turkiye Business Committee was chaired by Oguz Satici, President of DEIK's Cuba-Turkiye Business Committee and was attended by Serpil Ata, Director of DEIK's Business Committees with Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as senior executives from 25 Turkish companies linked to the textile, construction, food, tourism and energy sectors. On the Cuban side, Ambassador Alejandro Diaz Palacios, Omar de Jesús Fernández, Secretary General of the CCRC, Inalvis Bonachea, Director of Europe of MINCEX and members of the Cuban diplomatic mission in Turkey, and executives of 20 Cuban companies.
At the meeting, the Turkish businessmen referred to their interest in the Cuban market, as well as stressed its importance for allowing the resumption of the bilateral business committee.
In the plenary session, the Cuban side gave a presentation on business opportunities in Cuba, economic transformations and priorities in trade and investment, mentioning the sectors in which both countries have the potential to work together. In addition, 10 bilateral meetings were held.
Main results:
During the Cuban business mission to Türkiye, Cuban companies held more than 80 meetings and the main results were:
- Progress was made in the negotiation of the ongoing project in the field of construction.
- Exchanges were held to increase the presence of Turkish Airlines in Cuba.
- Cuban importing companies were able to contact and evaluate offers from direct producers and suppliers.
- Links were established with new tour operators and work is underway to organise promotional activities for Destination Cuba with the Türkiye Türkiye Travel Agency (TURSAB) and with the main Turkish tour operators.
- Working links were re-established with the Izmir Chamber of Commerce and the collaboration agreement was updated.
- Direct links were established with the Aegean Region Türkiye Exporters Association, which provided the contact details of the exporters' trade associations.
- The II Session of the Cuba-Turkey Business Committee was held, which concluded with the signing of the minutes of the meeting and the Committee's Work Plan for the remaining months of 2024 and the year 2025.
