The 29th Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV) concluded on Saturday at the Expocuba showground. “Contracts amounting to more than US$300 million were signed last week, and other negotiations were set in motion,” said President of the Organizing Committee Abraham Maciques at the closing ceremony. 

Twenty-three Gold Medals to Quality were given at the awarding ceremony. Eleven Cuban participants were given medals, including Cuba Ron SA, BRASCUBA, Habanos, Bravo SA, COMETAL Thabo and Proquimia S.A.

Vice-President of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas said the fair had been excellent. “The meeting took place in an atmosphere of mutual trust. The Havana International Trade Fair is an excellent venue for bilaterally analyzing business opportunities.”

Cabrisas told the press that until 1989 Cuba’s main sources of income were sugar, nickel, cigar, fish and seafood exports, but the economic structure of the country had changed over the last few years.

He added that in the case of sugar and nickel, such income was subject to the ups and downs of the international market.

“Now the country relies mostly on the export of services and international tourism, as well as on sales of biotechnological products,” Cabrisas noted.

Representatives from 60 nations exhibited their products at the fair. The highlight of the Cuban exhibition was a series of natural products for human health, biotechnological products for cancer treatment, implants for deaf-blind children and the country’s breakthroughs in neuroscience.

Translated by Silke Paez Carr

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