The Government of Slovakia He confirmed his interest in strengthening economic ties with Cuba, but asked the Cuban authorities to carry out reforms that facilitate the presence of their companies on the island.
This was announced by the prime minister of that country, the populist Robert Fico, who met this Thursday in Bratislava with the deputy prime minister of Cuba and head of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga.
“Slovakia’s priority is to involve Slovak businessmen more closely in the opportunities created by various reform measures in Cuba,” the Slovak president said in a statement. cited by agency EFE.
To do this, according to Fico, it is necessary to “improve the mutual contractual basis, simplify the way of traveling and the operation of Slovak companies in Cuba.”
Slovakia wishes to organize “a large business mission” to the island, an event that, however, will have to wait and will not take place in 2026 due to the “unpredictable internal political situation in Slovakia, the international situation and the unprecedented tension,” said the prime minister.
The report of EFE does not provide statements regarding Pérez-Oliva Fraga. Nor have the profiles of the Ministry of Foreign Trade (Mincex), headed by the vice prime minister himself, made reference to the Cuban minister’s meeting with Fico, although they have referred to previous activities in France.
Pérez-Oliva in Europe
Pérez-Oliva Fraga is currently in Europe, where he already chaired the Cuban delegation to a meeting with the Paris Club, which brings together around twenty creditor countries.
The meeting took place this Wednesday in the French capital to follow up on the agreement reached a year agowhen both parties agreed to rearrange the payment of Cuba’s debt with that group and give the island better conditions for it.
In it, the island’s delegation explained the country’s “complex” financial situation to its creditors, as well as “recent decisions” adopted by Havana “to boost the economy with an approach based on sustainable development.” as reported by the agency Latin Press (PL).
Also in France, Pérez-Oliva Fragase met with the director general of the French Treasury, Bertrand Dumont, with whom he spoke “on the possibilities of strengthening bilateral economic ties,” as well as the ways to achieve this, according to Mincex, without giving more details.
The deputy prime minister and minister @MINCEX_CUBA @polivaoscar and the director general of the French Treasury, #BertrandDumontthey talked in #Paris about the possibilities of enhancing bilateral economic ties and explored ways to achieve this. pic.twitter.com/XF6a0079uK
— MINCEX (@MINCEX_CUBA) January 22, 2026
The first Cuban deputy prime minister had pointed out last November, during the 41st edition of the Havana International Fair, that it is necessary to create a “more dynamic and more transparent environment”, with “more facilities and guarantees” for foreign investors.
So, The Cuban Government announced new measures to boost foreign investment, although it ruled out liberalization of the labor market.
Cuba is suffering a deep economic crisis, aggravated by the effects of the pandemic, the tightening of US sanctions, internal inefficiencies and hitherto failed economic and monetary policies.
Added to the sustained economic contraction of recent years is high inflation, shortages of basic goods – such as food, medicine and fuel -, prolonged daily blackouts, growing dollarization and a massive migratory wave.
