Washington, February 15 (RHC)-- Cuban Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Rodrigo Malmierca begins a four-day working visit to the United States, which includes meetings with local officials, public and private entrepreneurs.

This is the second Cuban government minister to visit the U.S. in over 50 years, after Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez opened the Cuban embassy in Washington last July, following the announcement by presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama to re-establish diplomatic relations.

Malmierca will meet with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and both will consider the scope of executive measures adopted by President Obama to modify aspects of the over-50-year economic, commercial and financial blockade of Cuba.

Minister Malmierca will also meet with members of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, an entity that set up the U.S.-Cuba Business Council to boost bilateral trade exchange and lift barriers on commerce. 

The Cuban government official arrived Sunday in Washington heading a delegation that includes members of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, the Foreign Ministry, the Central Bank of Cuba and entrepreneurs.  They were welcomed at Dulles International Airport by Havana's Ambassador to Washington, Jose Cabañas.