The Russian automobile factory Ulyanovsk (UAZ) plans to assemble SKD model vehicles in Cuba, according to media eurasian country.
This is an agreement derived from the negotiations of the XI Meeting of the Cuba-Russia Business Committee, held last week in Havana, according to public Izvestia.
According to said source, the first batch of car kits for assembly will arrive on the island as soon as July and August of this year.
Representatives of the Russian company revealed that the negotiations took place in the Cuban capital between May 18 and 20.
So, the commissioner to the president of Russia for the rights of entrepreneurs Boris Titov announced the organization of the assembly of UAZ vehicles and service centers in the country for the repair and maintenance of these vehicles.
The report by the Russian media does not explain other details or specify what destination the cars will take once assembled, if they will be put up for sale to individuals, serve tourism or form part of the fleet of state entities on the island.
UAZ is considered the pride of the Russian automobile and military industry, with more than 80 years of history.
Cars of this brand have circulated in Cuba for more than 60 years. The best known are the UAZ-469, used by the Armed Forces. However, the classic Russian car on the island’s roads is still the Lada, which belongs to the AvtoVAZ production company.
Russian businessmen and authorities participating in the Economic-Business Forum between both nations expressed in Havana their intentions to increase their presence in Cuba, as well as the commercial exchange between both countries.
During the XX Session of the Intergovernmental Commission between the two nations, agreements were reached to promote these links, such as the granting of “facilities” to Russian businessmen to encourage their presence on the island.
Titov pointed out on this occasion that Havana had offered Russian companies the right to make usufruct use of Cuban land within a period of 30 years. In addition, various agreements and memoranda were signed between the governments and entities of the two nations.
Business forum between Cuba and Russia closes with the signing of new agreements
Both governments intend to “substantially” increase Russian investments and trade, which in 2022 only reached 451 million dollars.
In this context, the Cuban Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Ricardo Cabrisas, confirmed the intention to increase Russia’s presence in Cuba’s 2030 economic and social development plan.
