Cuban Foreign Minister exchanges with U.S. businessmen

On Friday November 3, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, met in Washington, D.C. with U.S. businessmen and representatives of the business community. The meeting was organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S.-Cuba Business Council.

 

During the meeting, which was attended by more than 30 high ranking executives from U.S. companies, the Cuban Foreign Minister stated the stand of his government in regards to the deterioration of the bilateral relationship within the current context and stressed that this situation is significantly affecting the economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

 

Bruno Rodríguez underscored that under the current circumstances there is no explanation that justifies that, due to the recent decision by the US government, the Cuban Embassy Economic and Trade Office in Washington D.C. has been unstaffed, thus depriving the business sector interested in doing business with Cuba of an official interlocutor.

 

The Cuban Foreign Minister also reiterated the willingness of the Cuban government to continue enhancing trade relations and analyzing the interests of U.S. companies. Likewise, Bruno Rodríguez highlighted the positive and mutually beneficial working experiences with companies that already do business with Cuba such as: Google, Marriott, Caterpillar, General Electric, as well as Cruiser Lines and airlines, among others.

 

The Cuban Minister appreciated the attendance of an important group of businessmen, who traveled to Cuba early this week to participate at the Havana International Trade Fair FIHAV 2017 and returned to the United States prior to the closing of the event just to attend this meeting.

 

U.S. business representatives who participated in the meeting ratified their willingness to continue working to promote business relations with Cuba and recognized the wide-range of opportunities and significant interest coming from various sectors in the United States.

 

This meeting was the last activity of the program carried out by the Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs during his visit to Washington DC, in which he also exchanged with U.S. members of Congress, representatives of the academic sector and the press.