Cuba and Russia strengthen commercial ties

By Roberto Morejón

Ever since Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel's visit to Moscow at the end of last year, Cuba and Russia have been finalizing plans to bring economic exchanges to the same level as political ties.

 The recent visit of the Caribbean nation's Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, to the Eurasian giant, where he took part in two relevant forums, contributed to this.

 At the Intergovernmental Council of the Eurasian Economic Union, Marrero presented his country's potential in important areas such as biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry.

 The event in the city of Sochi enabled Marrero to attend the signing of outstanding agreements between the Biocubafarma group and Russian and Belarusian companies.

 The executives sent from Havana learned about experiences on the incorporation in 10 countries of the Russian payment system Mir, which is being implemented in the largest of the Antilles.

 A significant part of the stay of Cuba's chief executive in Russia was to hold meetings with high-level leaders, among them President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who spoke about the strategic nature of the ties with Havana.

 The head of government of the Caribbean country also took part in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, attended by delegates from 130 countries.

 For Cuba, the objective of the conclave was cardinal, that is, to insist on import substitution, de-dollarization, promoting new trade partners, and understanding Russia's economic reality.

 The Antillean senior executive emphasized that Cuba conceives foreign investment as an essential element for its development.

 "Open to the world", the speaker emphasized amid the sharp isolation campaigns of the United States.

 The message was also essential for the Russian space, although there is a greater understanding of the openness to business in the land of José Martí.

 In fact, in the last few months, the steps taken in the Eurasian Republic to expand cooperation with Cuba and native entrepreneurs in the Caribbean country have increased.

 Under that prism, Cubans took note with hope of the announcement of projects between the two countries that envisage revival in sectors, today punished by the U.S. blockade.

 The parties are talking about some thirty agreements outlined for which Russian supplies of fuel, wheat, and fertilizers, among other items, currently in deficit in the archipelago, are envisaged.

 Russia and Cuba are analyzing new channels for cooperation outside the scope of the instruments imposed by the U.S. sanctions