Cuba’s Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, the Cuban Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment is on an official visit to the Netherlands from September 15 to 17. He was received by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders. Mr. Malmierca is attending the Entrepreneurial Business Dialogue taking place at the World Trade Center in the Hague.
Trade between Cuba and the Netherlands has grown over the years. Earlier this year, the Cuba-Netherlands Business Forum (Holland, Curaçao, Aruba and Sint Maarten) took place in Havana. The delegation included representatives of 77 companies and organizations from different sectors, including major corporations such as Unilever, Philips and Heineken. Cuba is now the honoring the Dutch visit.
The official visit by Cuba’s Minister presents the ideal opportunity to build on the strong relationship between the Netherlands and Cuba and for both parties to share information on opportunities in the various sectors.
Deputy Director General for External Economic Relations Guido Landheer opened the meeting.
Malmierca spoke over lunch with his counterpart Lilianne Ploumen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Also present at the luncheon were Ministers Plenipotentiary of Curacao, Mrs Marvelyne Wiels, and Mr. Alfonso Boekhoudt of Aruba.
Mr. Malmierca spoke on the topics of the Cuban economic model, the importance of FDI, and business opportunities. Opportunities exists in the agrifood, sustainable energy, construction, biotechnology, water and logistics sectors for Dutch companies.
More than 70 business people attended the Entrepreneurial Business Dialogue. A number of Dutch experts presented on the challenges of agrifood, sustainable energy, water and logistics.
Based on annual export and import figures, the Netherlands is Cuba’s second largest trade partner in Europe.
Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment stands with Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bert Koenders. Official visit to the Netherlands, September 15-17, 2016. Photo courtesy: Dutch embassy in Havana.
Meeting today in the Netherlands. Cuba’s Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz, Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment, on official visit. Photo courtesy of the Dutch Embassy in Havana.
