Sosin Eileen Martinez
“If we are mention that several companies have more than 30 years working in this market, it indicates that there are very positive aspects: there are many needs, well-trained people; There are affinities and we understand each other”. So says José María León, president of the Association of Basques in Cuba (AECV), an organization established since the early 2000s.
The industry has been the key sector where they have operated, although this specialization allows them, in turn, to expand to other fields. “We have a great capacity to manufacture machinery for the food area. If we talk about telecommunications, we have industries of mobile phones, with which we are well positioned. In the field of renewable energy we also work in wind energy and photovoltaic systems.
“When we say industry it can be the cigars, nickel, tourism, construction … For any subject of these in the country, certainly there will be one or two Basque companies that will be participating in some way or the other,” says the official.
From this path, marked by a serious and professional image, Leon speaks on some prospects for joint ventures, which will be formed under the Law on Foreign Investment and the Development Special Zone Mariel.
“We, Basque businessmen, want to become more involved in the development of Cuba, what happens is that we are still studying the process of foreign investment. There are changes from the previous law, but there are still some details, nuances that we analyze, and talk with Cuban institutions to move closer our positions.
“Most people who have invested in the country in recent years want to do something else.
There will be companies getting faster in that foreign investment, either in Mariel or elsewhere, and others that will wait a bit to see exactly how it is going. ”
In this sense, the Portfolio Opportunities disclosed in the recently concluded International Fair of Havana, outlines some of the way. “All projects the country is making are interesting for the Basque businessmen. There are many economic and fiscal incentives, but there are things we need to evolve, operational aspects, and feel for ourselves what we are doing. Behind there is a financial element, you should try to involve also financial institutions, “Leon said.
They should also address other issues relating to the size of business. “Those of us here represent small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ie, there is no large company that may have a different approach. SMEs do not have an economic capacity to meet certain projects that are of the most interest to the Cuban state. Here we are at a disadvantage to a large Chinese, Brazilian, even Spanish “multinational enterprise
Meanwhile, the days of FIHAV 2014 left a positive balance. “Our pavilion is considered by Cuban authorities as the best prepared in industry. Here several ministers from different sectors have come, keen for us to collaborate with them in the development of the country.
“The influx of professional public has been a common denominator for all exhibitors; much higher than in the three or four previous editions. They all come with a very positive mentality, thinking that their companies and their ministries are there to give support, and has given us the feeling that on our part that correspondence must also exist “.
AEVC currently has 25 members. “We really are few compared to those who should be. Our idea is to try to incorporate to the Association all those Basque companies that have long been working on the island, and often lack communication and we have not worked in common. ”
The most immediate plans have to do with enhancing the institutional relations between Cuba and their autonomous government, to maintain a dialogue between the authorities of both parties. Such projections include, among other actions, visits to Cuba of Basque officials during the first quarter of 2015.
