Moscow, July 11 (RHC) – Russia, Cuba and possibly other countries will pool their efforts for creating a major transport hub in Cuba by upgrading the port of Mariel and building a modern international airport in San Antonio de los Banos, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
 
In an exclusive interview to Cuban news agency Prensa Latina ahead of his South American tour, Putin said Russia's decision to write off 90% of the Cuban debt on loans granted in the Soviet times was a "unprecedented step" which “testifies to the strategic nature of our bilateral relations."
 
Putin believes that Russian-Cuban trade and investment relations have a great potential.  He noted that the two countries have established close cooperation between their business organizations - the Russian-Cuban and Cuban-Russian Business Councils. 
 
The Russian president told reporters in Moscow before leaving for Havana: "We believe there are real opportunities to bring our cooperation to a totally new level, including by implementing major joint projects.”  As an example, he mentioned Zarubezhneft which started drilling the first development well in Cuba, located in the Boca de Jaruco oilfield in August 2013.
Other important projects include the construction of a major transport hub with Russia's and Cuba's involvement, as well as the possibility of attracting investment from third countries.  It involves upgrading the port of Mariel and building a modern international airport with a cargo terminal in San Antonio de los Banos.