Cuba said today that an eventual lifting of the economic, commercial and financial blockade applied by the United States against the island would benefit not only the two countries but also to international economic relations.
EFE
In opening the International Fair of Havana (FIHAV 2015), Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, he made this remark after noting that US policy persists despite international rejection that was recently ratified by 191 countries with vote in the UN General Assembly.
"The end of the block (as defined in Cuba to the US economic embargo) will be a step towards international economic relations, not only at the bilateral level between Cuba and the United States," Malmierca said in his inaugural speech to ministers, economic officials and businessmen from 70 countries attending the FIHAV, the largest stock exchange business on the island.
The minister stressed that the "blockade" that applies US against Cuba for more than five decades is "the main obstacle" to the normalization of relations between the two countries restored diplomatic ties last July 20 with the opening of embassies.
In addition to state the purpose of having diversified economic and trade relations with everyone, Malmierca stressed that Cuban law "does not discriminate against any company by origin", and in this regard noted the interest of many American entrepreneurs to do business in Cuba .
"We will welcome you (US businessmen) to participate in the Cuban market on an equal footing with the rest of the planet," he said.
Also he expressed willingness to further strengthen economic ties with traditional partners of the island, Venezuela, China, Russia and Spain.
"Our aspiration is to do business with serious partners for the benefit of both sides," the minister added.
He also reported that during the first half of this year the Caribbean country closed with an increase of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 4.7% with an estimated end 2015 with growth of around 4 percent perspective.
Malmierca said that this result "breaks" with the trend to slower growth of the Cuban economy in recent years, and has been supported by the industry, construction, trade, tourism and agricultural production.
He further stressed the "special attention" to the Cuban government pays to issues considered "high priority", as in the case of attracting foreign capital.
In that sense, Malmierca invited to attend next Tuesday at the presentation of the updated edition of Portfolio foreign investment opportunities on the island, which he held in FIHAV.
On the same day, before the opening of FIHAV, Malmierca attended a meeting of the Business Council US-Cuba, in which more than 50 managers of US companies and representatives of companies and organizations on the island.
The US delegation to the forum was headed by Executive Vice President of the United States Chamber of Commerce (USCC), Myron Brilliant, who was accompanied by executives from companies such as American Airlines, Heinz Kraft, Caterpillar, Home Depot and other tourism health and telecommunications.