The Cuba Initiative is organising a unique high level Trade and Investment Mission to Havana, Cuba. The Mission has the support of both the British and Cuban Governments and will enable participants to meet Cuban Ministers and senior decision makers involved in trade and investment opportunities.
The visit will be led by Lord Hutton, the Chairman of the Cuba Initiative and will take place under the auspices of the Cuban side of Cuban Initiative which is chaired by the Minister of Foreign Investment and Trade, Rodrigo Malmierca. As such, companies will have the rare opportunity to meet Cuban Ministers and senior decision-makers in state-owned and autonomous enterprises.
Programme
There will be a briefing meeting for all delegates on Monday 27 April in the evening from 8pm and the core programme of meetings during the Mission will take place between Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 April.
An official programme of meetings will be organised for delegates participating in the Mission. The visit will offer meetings for companies in sectors including but not limited to energy (oil and gas as well as renewables), mining, tourism, manufacturing, agribusiness, finance and biotechnology.
The first day of the programme will include a briefing meeting from the British Ambassador in Havana, Tim Cole. The mission will then by opened officially by Lord Hutton, and it is hoped, either Vice President Ricardo Cabrisas or Minister Rodrigo Malmierca, the Minister of Foreign Trade. This will be followed by presentations about the Cuban economic reform process, the business environment and the practical issues concerned with doing business in Cuba from senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, and others. There will be a networking lunch for the delegates to meet the senior Cuban officials and decision makers who attend the plenary, after which there will be the opportunity to have one to one meetings or go on a site visit to the British American Tobacco premises to see first hand a successful joint venture.
The British Embassy in Havana will then host an evening drinks reception with a range of senior guests from the Cuban Government, Cuban state enterprises and representatives of the British business community in Havana.
The second day of the programme will include sectoral workshops with Cuban Ministers, senior officials, and business leaders from: the Ministry of Energy and Mines; the Ministry of Tourism; the Ministry of Agriculture; the state sugar company Azcuba (which replaced the Ministry of Sugar in 2011); the Ministry of Transport; the Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries Business Group, Biocubafarma; and officials responsible for the Mariel special development zone; as well as the relevant sectoral business groups attached to the ministries.
One to one meetings with relevant state enterprises can be facilitated according to your company’s particular objectives and there may be the opportunity to attend a ministerial meeting with Lord Hutton in a sector relevant to your business.
The final day will include a site visit to the Mariel Special Development Zone, or other sites depending on delegates’ interests, as well as further time for one to one meetings.
Eligibility
To be eligible to join, the company must be UK registered or have a demonstrable UK presence.
Flights and accommodation
Delegates are expected to organise their own flights to and from Havana.
Participants leaving from London are advised to arrive in Havana on Monday 27 April for the briefing meeting in the evening from 8pm. The main programme of meetings will take place on Tuesday 28 April to Thursday 30 April.
The official delegate hotel will be the Melia Cohiba hotel, Planta Real. A group booking will be made for the delegation but participants will need to confirm a booking request via the Cuba Initiative. Rates will be approximately US$140 for junior suites and suite options are available at US$205, dependent on availability.
Rates
Companies participating will be charged a fee to cover administration costs for the programme of the visit. Please note that this does not include the cost for flights or accommodation.
Members of the Caribbean Council and the Cuba Initiative:
Premier members: £350 per person
Corporate members: £500 per person
Regular members: £1,250 per person
Non- members: £1,500 per person. This includes 1-year complimentary Corporate Membership of the Cuba Initiative at a value of£500.
One place will be guaranteed to each company at all core meetings, with spaces for additional company representatives dependent on availability. Meetings for additional company representatives may be organised outside the official programme in conjunction with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce.
If you would like to join the mission, please contact catherine.hickey@stagingcaribbean.wpengage.uk or call +44 207 583 8739. Spaces are limited and due to the popularity of the mission, companies are advised to register as soon as possible.
Useful documents:
Full details: Trade and Investment Mission to Cuba 27-30 April 2015
