London, May 25, 2022- On the morning of Tuesday, May 24, the Cuban ambassador, Bárbara Montalvo Álvarez, held a cordial and fruitful exchange with Gareth Thomas, Minister for International Trade of the Labour Shadow Cabinet, at the headquarters of the British Parliament.
The Head of the Cuban Mission offered an update on current Cuban issues, in particular, the changes and transformations of the Cuban economic model introduced in recent years to make it more efficient, the impact of the unprecedented tightening of the blockade imposed by the U.S. and the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as Cuba-USA relations.
In the bilateral sphere with the United Kingdom, Montalvo mentioned the presence of British investors on the Island, fundamentally in the renewable energy sector, while highlighting the existing potential for the development and strengthening of economic and commercial ties between the two countries.
Thomas said that the UK has always considered "the blockade is wrong". Likewise, he recognized the historical relations of London with the Caribbean and the role of Cuba in this region.
On the Cuban side, the First Secretary, Michel Rodríguez, and the Second Secretary, Aymée Díaz, were present.
The British Minister has been a Member of Parliament since 1997. In April 2020, he was appointed to his current position.