Executives
from the U.S. agribusiness sector will have another opportunity to meet with Cuban trade officials at the second U.S.-Cuba Business Conference (www.wdf.org) in Cancun, Mexico, and Havana, Cuba, February 17-19,
2003. This second annual event can serve to finalize deals negotiated at the first show and develop new ones. Business leaders can present their products, exchange information about trade opportunities,
and discuss the process for sales to Cuba.The president of Alimport (the Cuban food import agency), Pedro Alvarez, will lead the delegation of business and product specialists. Other high level
officials attending will include the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Relations. MediCuba; experts in veterinary and phytosanitary regulations; shipping and transportation officials; and product
specialists, will also take part in the conference. The Cuban Host Committee includes CONAS, a Cuban trade and investment consulting firm; CPI, the Center for Investment Promotion of the Cuban Ministry of
Foreign Investment; and CIMEX - the largest holding company in Cuba and operator of most of that country's food outlets.
"My colleagues and I at Alimport look forward to meeting the participants
in the upcoming U.S.-Cuba Business Conference in Cancun and Havana," said Alvarez, "I invite all U.S. companies to come to Cancun and Havana to meet with us, exchange information, and learn how business
can be conducted."
Sponsors from the United States include the U.S.-Cuba Trade Association, the GIC Group, Caterpillar, World Development Federation, Alamar Associates, Patton Boggs, Virginia
Department of Agriculture, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Port of Galveston, California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Americans for Humanitarian Trade with Cuba, and
Site Selection magazine. Conway Data from Georgia is the organizer of the conference. Representatives from state agricultural agencies and elected members of Congress are also expected to attend.
Depending on their Congressional obligations, Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and representatives Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), George Nethercutt (R-WA), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) are also expected to attend the U.S. Cuba
Business Conference.
This conference is the third such gathering between U.S. business executives and Cuban officials. The first was the U.S.-Cuba Conference in Cancun in January 2002 that resulted in
the formation of the U.S. – Cuba Trade Association. The second meeting was the Agribusiness Exposition held in Havana in September 2002. At that meeting, Cuba signed over $85 million in business
contracts and secured letters of intent for another $28 million of sales.
"I took ten company representatives from Virginia to the trade exhibition in Havana, Cuba, in September 2002. We
negotiated with Alimport representatives, signed contracts, and sold products. We are still under negotiation in soybean oil, soybean meal, wood products, powdered milk, and wine," said Daniel Secondi, GIC
Group Director of Business Development in Latin America. The GIC Group provides financial services and marketing assistance to agribusinesses worldwide.
The schedule of the upcoming conference
includes two days of plenary and private meetings in Cancun and a third fully hosted day in Havana. In Cancun, participants will be able to meet privately with Alimport and other Cuban entities to discuss their
special business interests. These private meetings will continue in Havana while other participants visit Cuban points of interest.
Sponsorships are still available for the conference.
Companies interested in the U.S.–Cuba Trade Association or those wishing to register for this Cancun-Havana Business Conference should contact Daniel Secondi at:
The GIC Group
1434 Duke St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: 703-684-1366 / Fax: 703-684-1369
