For Iliana Tuya and Richard Kohlweg, Intelsat enterprise sales managers for Latin America and the Caribbean, the sign is clear: a possible lifting of the U.S. economic, financial and commercial blockade on Cuba could favor the peoples of both nations and increase the business possibilities between clients. In statements to OnCuba, Tuya – an American of Cuban parents – considers there will be many opportunities on the island if the restrictions are lifted, since Intelsat is a global enterprise with more than 50 satellites with world coverage that offers video, mobility, Internet, cell network services to many clients.” “We have had relations with Cuban institutions like ETECSA for many years, and we have also contributed to the live broadcasts of World Cups and Olympic Games through television signals. We are one of the few American enterprises with established relations in Cuba. We focus on the area of telecommunications, and our exchanges have been possible thanks to U.S. government licenses. I believe the opening between both nations could open up possibilities for new business deals, and that would be very good for the Cuban people,” she highlighted. According to her, Intelsat’s work in Cuba and the collaboration with Cuban professionals is...

Yasek Manzano doesn’t considered himself a jazz musician who has a unique style when it comes to music. He is convinced that art is a sequence of creative impulses that can yield favourable results when there is tenacity, dedication and study. For many he represents one of the most successful young musical talents. For others, he should manage his talent more wisely in order to better relate to a far wider audience. Independent from any considerations, it is certain that he has known how to make his art a way of life that pleases his followers and often leaves a definite mark on any Cuban or international stage. As a child he began to venture into the world of sound and moved through several art schools in Havana, where he became a trumpet player. At 17, he had already played professionally with various Cuban groups in a range of cultural centres. One day at the Zorra y el Cuevo, as fate would have it, his maestro Bobby Carcasses presented him to the renowned American jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. The meeting was a real surprise for the young man since American artists were punished for visiting Cuba. That day he had...

Regla Teresa García Caturla, better known as Tete Caturla, is considered young despite her age, her voice has not lost its tone all along decades, and her smile remains affable and revealing secrets. She is not only remembered as part of Las D'Aida legendary quartet, but at almost 80 she continues to give her best to further magnify Cuban art. From the comfort of her home in a very central area of Havana’s Vedado neighborhood, Tete told OnCuba about her first steps in Cuban music. While speaking of her beginnings, she sometimes posed a nostalgic look at past glories, but immediately regained the joy of a renewed present. "It can be said it's been a lifetime on stage: five decades is too long; but I'm struggling, I'm not tired, and we must continue till the body gives out, " Tete Caturla said. "I never thought to enter Las D'Aida quartet. To me that seemed unattainable. However, my nephew Fabian, instrumentalist at the Cuban Radio Institute, told me one day in 1963 that the group had returned from Europe and they lacked a voice. He asked me if I was interested, but I had doubts; I thought I did not reach...

“Me dicen Cuba” (people call me Cuba) is perhaps one of Alexander Abreu’s most popular lines. He really knows how to portray the Cuban identity from the first notes of his musical proposals, and rhythms, very close to his origins, reveal a strong desire for playing timba, Cuban salsa, even when there is more room for other genres in fashion. Since the first performance of his band Havana D’Primera in October, 2008, in the Turquino Cabaret at the Habana Libre Hotel, they have struggle to be an authentic exponent of Cuban music within this market, which is very competitive and constantly changing. I statements to OnCuba, the director of Havana D’Primera talked about the beginnings of the band, their objectives and plans. Recently, the Cuban journal Juventud Rebelde described Havana D’Primera as the most popular band in Cuba. What do you think about that? I’m grateful for that comment but I think that being the most popular band in Cuba is really difficult if taken into account the kind of music we do and the music people is actually listening to, the music that is playing nationwide. Cuba is a tough scenario in terms of music: there are genres that...

With a fairly stable and beneficial to both countries trade flow, Spain stands as the third largest trading partner of Cuba, after Venezuela and China; and opportunities to increase trade and investment flows are even higher due to the reforms in economic policy carried out in Cuba, including the new Foreign Investment Law, which opens more doors to foreign businessmen . On the current state of economic relations between the two countries, the place of such reciprocity, and the prospects for further ingrain the interests of Cuba and Spain, OnCuba spoke with William Kessler Saiz , Economic and Commercial Attaché at the Embassy of Spain in Havana . What do you think about the current economic and trade relations between Cuba and Spain? I think we are at a good level. Spanish exports reached a record high of 785 million Euros in 2008, placing Cuba as the third Latin American market for Spain, after Mexico and Brazil; but at the end of last year we broke that record with a total of 799 million Euros. Cuba is the first client in Latin America in per capita exports, with over 70 Euros per person imported and represents our sixth market in...

Despite the fact the United Kingdom is one of the top economies in the world, relies on powerful enterprises distributed worldwide, maintains good diplomatic relations with Cuba, and constitutes an important emitting market of tourists to the island, investments and commercial flow between the two nations are not in a relevant position in contrast with other European countries. However, according to Tim Cole, ambassador of the UK to Cuba, that reality might change in view of the approval of a new Foreign Investment Law in Cuba and the incentives provided by Mariel’s Special Development Zone (ZEDM by its acronym in Spanish). In statements for this article, Cole highlighted that even though Cuba is favored in the trading balance, there are development areas that are not exploited upright and it would be a positive thing that British companies would turn to these areas like biotechnology, tourism, and renewable energy. He also pointed out that the presence of British companies such as Imperial Tobacco, British American Tobacco, Castrol, or Unilever is not enough to achieve a major boost for British capital in Cuba. To what extent can the Cuban market be boosted before the British entrepreneurs? My work as ambassador is to...