Geneva, 11 April 2025. The First Deputy Minister of Communications of Cuba, Ernesto Rodríguez Hernández, held a meeting today with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan, at the organisation’s headquarters in this Swiss city.
Also present were Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, and Counsellor Madelyn Rodríguez Lara. The Secretary-General of UNCTAD was accompanied by Ms. Erika Martínez, her Special Adviser.
Rebeca Grynspan expressed her gratitude for Cuba’s active participation in the 28th session of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, held in Geneva from 7 to 11 April, and acknowledged Cuba’s progress in areas within the Commission’s mandate, despite the impact of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on the Island for over 60 years.
She identified the 16th Ministerial Conference of the Conference on Trade and Development, to be held in Vietnam next October, as one of the key priorities for this year.
Meanwhile, the First Deputy Minister reaffirmed the importance Cuba attaches to the preparatory process for the 16th Conference on Trade and Development and its commitment to contributing constructively to its success. He stressed the importance of ensuring that the outcome document of the Conference includes a clear rejection of unilateral measures, which have severely impacted affected countries, including Cuba.
He also extended an invitation to the Secretary-General to attend the 20th edition of the International Informatics Convention and Fair, scheduled to take place in Havana from 23 to 27 March 2026.
Rodríguez Hernández reaffirmed Cuba’s interest in strengthening cooperation with UNCTAD on key topics such as digital trade, with a particular focus on e-commerce training.