LatinNews Daily - 5 November 2024

*The president of Cuba’s central bank (BCC), Juana Lilia Delgado Portal, has hailed collaboration with Spain, at the inauguration of Havana’s annual International Trade Fair (Fihav), Cuba’s largest multi-sector trade fair. She said that Spain, which has the biggest presence at the fair, according to Cuba’s state-run internet portal Cuba Debate, is an important associate for Cuba in the development of foreign investment projects, trade, and cooperation. Her comments were shared by Spain’s ambassador to Cuba, Francisco Javier Hergueta Garnica, who said that Cuba had Spain’s full support. As well as Cuba and Spain, participants at the trade fair include Venezuela, China, Vietnam, and Russia, among other countries. According to the latest update from the Spanish government, which cites official Cuban data, there are over 60 Spanish investments in Cuba, among mixed companies, international economic associations, and foreign companies, both in the Mariel special development zone (ZED Mariel) and beyond. It cites the latest available data (from 2021) which shows that Spanish investment in Cuba reached €305m (US$332m), 1% more than in 2020. According to the same data, in 2022, Spain’s exports to Cuba totalled €780m, up 24% on 2021 while Spain’s exports to Cuba reached €139m, up 35% on the previous year.