CubaPLUS Magazine

The tenth edition of Expo Aladi-Cuba 2023 and the Multisector Macroround have been of great importance for Cuba and for all the participants, not only because of the large number of attending businessmen, but because it has allowed a rapprochement between foreigners and nationals in the interest of new businesses and sectors of the economy that had not been explored.

That was the opinion of Roberto Verrier, director of ProCuba: Center for the promotion of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment in Cuba, who spoke with CubaPLUS about the recently concluded meeting, held for three days in the capital's halls of Pabexpo.

On the other hand, from an economic point of view, he added, those who came have not only felt satisfied with the Macro business roundtables, but they have come to the stand of ProCuba to look for other possible businesses in the country, because in addition to having come to negotiate with Cuban businessmen or from other nations, they were also interested in other sectors of the economy and to link up with other companies.

“We have had almost 30 meetings, independently of the Macroround, with other businessmen interested in other sectors of the economy, with which they were not able to meet, which shows the good results of the meeting,” he said. On the other hand, from the political point of view, the need for Latin American unity, Latin American integration and the need to ensure that the greater Caribbean is also integrated, it can also be achieved from these events, he considered.

When answering a question about the importance that this meeting confers for Cuba, he pointed out that “this is the first phase of prospecting among businessmen to find out how do business and start working. Now it is the businessmen who have to decide, how to do it, at what time and to make it happen.”

But, he continued, the most important thing is that these businessmen know Cuban foreign trade, the Cuban market, the characteristics of our sectors of the economy and, therefore, on the other hand, it allows Cuban companies to meet important suppliers and clients, even large, small and medium businessmen who have been present.”

“I think it is very beneficial for the country (Expo Aladi) and, in general, for all businessmen who have come. I think it has been very well organized, very well conceived and that beneficial businesses were achieved for all.” Regarding the results that Expo Aladi has reported for the organization he heads, Berrier noted that this event benefits ProCuba in several ways.

¨Here are several promoting agencies, which benefit us for relationships. There is Venezuela, Colombia, ProChile, Mexico, Paraguay, with whom we have been speaking, with whom we have had contacts and we are evaluating the possibility that in the not too distant future, we can establish memorandums of understanding.”

When speaking in general about the work of ProCuba, he explained that the entity he represents already has a quarter of a century of experience in the promotion of foreign trade and some years regarding foreign investment.  In general, we develop several important activities, among them the organization of business agendas for foreign businessmen who are interested in making an investment in the country or are interested in the potential of investing, we also work on issues related to the preparation of companies in terms of market studies, commercial information and we provide timely updating entities, we serve them in a personalized way and advise them on intelligence issues commercial.

It is for all these reasons, among others, that Pro Cuba's participation in Expo Aladi 2023 has been of great benefit, according to Verrier's considerations. The ALADI, created by the Treaty of Montevideo of August 12, 1980, and of which Cuba is a member since 1999, is an intergovernmental body whose purpose is to achieve the integration of the region with the objective of establishing a Latin American common market and It also counts among its members with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.