The Executive Director of the Caribbean Agency for the Development of Exports (CEDA), Dr. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, attended the International Fair of Havana (FIHAV-2017) between October 30 and November 2, holding official talks with the Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Iliana Núñez, and with the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Cuba (CCC), Orlando Hernández Guillén. With the latter, Coke-Hamilton signed an Action Plan for the next two years of work, which will promote actions with a view to diversifying exports between the Caribbean islands. Protected by the recent signing of the Second Protocol that updated the Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation between CARICOM-Cuba, both entities intend to move forward with concrete actions based on the advantages offered by Cuba so that 297 Caribbean products have free access to its internal market . (See text of the Plan)
ACTION PLAN BETWEEN THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF CUBA AND CARIBBEAN EXPORT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (2017 – 2018)
The Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba, hereinafter the Chamber, and the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA), hereinafter Caribbean Export, in accordance with the Agreement signed between the Parties in 2012, agreed to sign this Action Plan for the period 2017-2018.
1. The Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba and Caribbean Export will contribute with their joint actions to the strengthening of trade in the Caribbean area.
2. Caribbean Export will work in the organization of a business mission to the XXXVI edition of the International Fair of Havana.
3. The Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba will collaborate in the organization and attention to business missions organized by Caribbean Export, which will visit Cuba during the period, guaranteeing business meetings and information sessions if required.
4. The Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba will promote the commercial events sponsored by Caribbean Export during the period.
5. Caribbean Export will promote among the Caribbean business community the events that take place in Cuba for which the Chamber will send the corresponding information.
6. Caribbean Export will support the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba in the attention and organization of business missions that could be carried out in the Caribbean area during the period, providing logistical support and in the organization of business meetings.
7. The Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba will transfer to Caribbean Export the updated portfolio of investment projects for the development of joint ventures that contribute to the substitution of imports and promote Cuban exports.
8. The Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba will send to Caribbean Export the Cuban offer of goods and services updated for its promotion among the Caribbean business community.
9. Both Parties will work on the identification of sectors, product lines and services with business opportunities in both markets and will systematically track the results.
10. Both Parties will maintain a permanent communication and exchange and periodically review the fulfillment of the aforementioned actions.
11. Both Parties will work with a view to reactivating the Cuba-Caribbean Business Committee, in particular in the identification of the Caribbean institution counterpart of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba.
Given in Havana, October 30, 2017.
By Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba, Orlando Hernández Guillén President
By Caribbean Export Development Agency, Pamela Coke Hamilton, Executive Director