Washington, February 18 (RHC)-- The U.S. organization Cuba Consortium is holding its first public lecture that seeks to facilitate the normalization of relations between Havana and Washington.

Created last year by the bipartisan entity The Howard Baker Forum, the consortium brings together companies, nonprofit organizations, investors, academics and entrepreneurs, who will discuss policies for the standardization and barriers to this process, announced by Presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama in December 2014.

The event coincides with the presence in Washington, DC of a delegation from the island, led by Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmierca, who visited the United States Chamber of Commerce and engaged in a dialogue with U.S. authorities to boost trade ties.

According to the program of the conference, welcoming remarks will given by the president of The Howard Baker Forum, Scott Campbell, and the co-leaders of Cuba Consortium, former senators Nancy Kassebaum and Tom Daschle.

Rodrigo Malmierca and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will also address the gathering in Washington.