According to information given to the press, business meetings were held in sectors such as the agri-food, health, tourism and technology sectors aimed at exports, productive linkages and foreign investment businesses.
This Fair remains committed to achieving the objectives of its beginnings in 1993, recognized by the International Association of Fairs in America, registered in the Cuban Trademark Office, as the second most important trade fair in the country, which gives participants the opportunity to showcase their products and services.
The meeting has demonstrated in each of its achievements that a better world is possible, and that it can be done. It also reaffirms the potential that the southeastern province has.
At the awards ceremony, Manuel Falcón Hernández, governor of the province, and Antonio Luis, president of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke; who recognized all those who have made the Fair possible and especially those who face the blockade to accompany us in the noble task of this town.
ExpoCaribe undoubtedly offers all economic players, both national and foreign, the opportunity to present their offers and demands for goods and services. It also shows how the development of new technologies facilitates the identification and consolidation of economic and commercial interests between countries in the Caribbean region and other regions of the world.
It has become a space to promote foreign investment, mainly from the eastern provinces, to promote exportable funds in the substitution of imports, to close deals in the different branches of the economy as part of the improvement of the Cuban economic model, and to seek competitiveness to assume commercial commitments between the different state and private actors, in times of great economic complexities that the world and specifically our country are facing, aggravated by the intensification of the economic, financial and commercial blockade of the United States government, which requires new alternatives to achieve the solution of various problems.
Antonio Carricarte Corona, president of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, addressed Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, first secretary of the Party in the province, Manuel Falcón Hernández Governor, and the ambassadors who have accompanied us throughout this edition.
“These have been intense, diverse and useful days dedicated to business negotiations. The Fair has fostered the discussion of important issues that contribute to its vitality, despite the complexities that the Cuban economy is going through.
“For the 20th edition of ExpoCaribe, the country’s second most important trade fair can be better promoted and have a greater impact on the execution of contracts and business deals.
“There is a solidity and maturity in the preparation of Cuban businessmen in their communication, advertising and marketing strategies, and important launches of products, services, pairings as well as planning, marketing and design have been presented.
“We congratulate the exhibitors for their seriousness and responsibility, which also becomes an attractive element for the Fair.
ExpoCaribe is not only about Santiago Cuba, it is an integration platform for the Caribbean region and we have to ensure that the chambers of commerce, associations of the region see it this way, and we agreed to the creation of a working group with all the embassies of the Caribbean, so that what we do strengthens the trade and cooperation agreement that Cuba has to turn it into an instrument for the promotion and development of business and commerce.
“Once again, thanks to the Hero City of Santiago de Cuba for its exquisite hospitality. Whenever one of these events where there is solidarity and brotherhood ends, one does so with feelings of nostalgia because we have to leave this territory and the emblematic cultural complex Heredia.
“Being here also allows us to share its rich history, its cultural traditions, consolidating the southeastern province as a bastion of regional integration not only with commercial and business issues.
“These were three days of intense work, dialogue, brotherhood and solidarity between businessmen from different countries who came to Santiago de Cuba, breaking the barriers of the criminal blockade; they were days of exchange with countries in the region and from other continents that are committed to integrity and mutual cooperation.”
One of the activities that was of great importance was the development of the panels that took place in the Hall of Stained Glass in the Antonio Maceo Grajales Revolution Square, in which interesting topics were presented, such as: the Study of productive niches with emphasis on the eastern provinces by SELA-PROCUBA; Brazil’s work strategy towards the Caribbean, by APEX Brazil-PROCUBA; Brazil’s work strategy towards the Caribbean, coordinated by MINCEX, among others.
Likewise, the usual meeting between Chambers of Commerce, CARIBBEAN Regulatory Agencies, the Business Forum and B TO B meetings was held, as well as the presentation of projects sponsored by Local Governments.
Collateral activities were also developed, including the presentation of a new brand of cigarettes from the Holguín factory; launch of the MultiSerF SRL International Commercial Expo; meeting of the marketing company ACIS of the Dominican Republic and the GI Marketing Group of Industrial Products and Services and the Guajiro MSME.
In addition, the 38th edition of the Caribbean Festival was presented, new assets of the Cuban Medical Services Company and business opportunities were announced. One of the most innovative launches was that of the GeoCuba Oriente Sur Company, which proposes the Tourism modality, Through the Lighthouses of Cuba; Rolando Ayub with its new product, the Siboney coffee drink; the launch of the Campaign for the 45th anniversary of the Siboney studios of Egrem and the TURNAT event, just to mention some of the collateral proposals.
These exchanges resulted in cooperation agreements, letters of intent, linkages, seminars, service proposals, among others, all aimed at following up on the millennium objectives and joining forces to fulfill the commitments made with CARICOM.
In summary, each of the activities carried out at the Fair has among its objectives to continue working together for the well-being of the people and develop fair and equitable trade.
According to its organizers, this year the ExpoCaribe 2024 International Fair exceeded expectations, some 300 entities participated together with the new actors of the Cuban economy on equal terms, and nearly thirty countries, 221 meetings were held on each side. of 124 Cuban companies and 28 foreign ones.
Significant are the possibility of opening three industrial products stores in the city based on the link between companies from the Dominican Republic and the Mincin; Materias and Cervecería Hatuey; as well as the identification of products and services for export to Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the presentation of the CUBAHA Project of the Bahamas with actors identified by goods and services, among others.
Some of them attended the event for the first time, and others have become repeat visitors, who are committed to continuing to seek exportable funds, productive chains, and entering new markets for business development with foreign investment.
The celebration of ExpoCaribe coincided with the fifth birthday of the companies Tropical Contramaestre SA and the Cuban-Slovakian Proxcor SA, specialized in the production and wholesale marketing of cookies and sherbets, a name day that they celebrated at the meeting.
As every year at the close of the Fair, the awards for quality, products and designs, best stands, communication were announced, and the one awarded by the Organizing Committee is becoming common: the Quality Award for the Roof System with Multi-Stand Production , from the firm Ondutil Italiana Spa; to BRASARDE Vegetable Charcoal, from the Gran Piedra Baconao Agroforestry Company; Caney Añejo Centuria Rum, from Multiservi SA; Cooked Ham, from Holguín Meat Company; to the Perla Negra Malta, from Cervecería Bucanero SA
The Technological Innovation Award was given to the CubaRon SA Corporation for the Isla Grande product; the Communication Award to Laboratorios Farmacéuticos Oriente (LBF); the Telecommunications Company (ETECSA); and the Granma Construction Materials Company (GRAMAT). The jury also awarded mentions to other outstanding products.
Likewise, Madelaine Cortés Barquilla, Director of Government Development, announced the call for the XX ExpoCaribe Fair, which will be held in 2025, in the territory of Santiago, to continue promoting trade relations between eastern Cuba and the rest of the world.
As the culmination of the second Cuban trade fair that took place from the 26th to today the 29th, those present enjoyed a cultural gala in the main hall of the Heredia Theater.
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