Amsterdam, September 16, 2026. Cuba’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Eva Yelina Silva Walker, attended the 82nd meeting of the Executive Board of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), held on September 16 in Amsterdam.
The event assessed mechanisms to expedite financing lines aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives operating within commodity sector value chains.
Delegations from participating countries acknowledged the work carried out by the CFC to transform agricultural systems in countries where Fund-financed projects have been implemented, as well as the benefits these projects bring to farming communities, particularly in developing nations. Emphasis was placed on the positive impact regarding the achievement of food security and the empowerment of women and youth, especially within the agricultural sector. Fundamentally, the importance of the Fund for developing countries, which rely on the marketing of raw materials, was highlighted.
During the meeting, the approval of 11 projects was announced; these offer significant opportunities for food security, environmental sustainability, and market access for agricultural producers in developing countries.
The Board meeting provided an opportune moment to exchange views with the Managing Director, Mr. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, and several Secretariat members regarding the organization's strategies and the projects currently being implemented in Latin America.
For over 30 years, the CFC has financed development projects. The multinational scope of the project financing mechanism and the commodity-related initiatives undertaken by the Fund and its partners has made it possible to address the broad issues and challenges facing the commodity sector in member countries. Project outcomes have focused primarily on areas such as market access and development, agro-industry, product competitiveness, infrastructure, marketing, and access to finance, among other related activities within the commodities sector.
The CFC currently has 101 member states and 9 institutional members. Cuba has been a member of the Fund since 1988 and has actively participated in its deliberations.
Embassy of Cuba in the Netherlands.