The IV Agricultural Conference between Cuba and the United States seeks to strengthen the bilateral links in this sector, at a time when the island tries to promote trade, foreign investment and domestic production to alleviate its current economic crisis.
In the meeting, which opened its doors this Tuesday in Havana, a delegation of 14 American businessmen and farmers from different states, belonging to the US-Cuba Agricultural Coalition, is participating, while authorities, businessmen are present from the host country and producers, both state and private.
The Conference, which will last until next Thursday, includes in its program exchanges between the delegations of both countries, with the intention of exploring new business opportunities.
In addition, the participants will learn first-hand about the work of new economic actors and local development projects linked to the sector, and will visit agricultural product markets in the Cuban capital.
The event also includes meetings with official Cuban entities, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the Ministries of Foreign Trade and the Food Industry. Also, dialogues on bilateral relations with representatives of the island’s Foreign Ministry and the United States Embassy in Havana.
In its opening session, held at the Hotel Grand Aston La Habana, the Americans received information on the most recent measures of the Cuban government in search of strengthening the depressed agricultural sector of the island, as well as the new policies and investment potential, which include cooperatives.
On behalf of the visiting delegation, Paul Johnson, president of the US-Cuba Agricultural Coalition, lamented the existence of obstacles, such as Washington’s sanctions on Cuba and the embargo/blockade regulations, which threaten greater agricultural exchange between the two countries, and advocated for a greater connection between Cubans and Americans as the “best hope” to remove those obstacles.
In particular, he criticized the inclusion of the island in the list of alleged sponsors of terrorism, due to the repercussions that this has on the possibilities of investment and bilateral collaboration.
Similarly, he celebrated the opening towards the private sector in Cuba, which he considered a way to possibly strengthen ties in the agricultural sector, and estimated that the Conference should contribute to “creating opportunities” and “solving shared problems”, in a context marked by a global increase in inflation and its impact on food prices.
“Working together we can improve the situation,” said Johnson, who highlighted the value of the meeting to “build trust” between both parties and open new doors in the future, after the setback in relations during the Donald Trump government.
Last year, Havana and Washington held some official contacts and exchanges in the midst of the severe economic crisis and the migratory wave that is going through the island.
On agriculture, a bipartisan congressional delegation, led by Democratic congresswoman Salud Carbajal, visited Cuba in late November to discuss the current state of Cuban agricultural practices and the situation of food supplies from the United States.
