The Cuban ambassador to Panama, Víctor Cairo, presented in Panama City this Monday the 39th edition of the Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2023), the island’s main commercial exchange, scheduled to be held in November next.
At the meeting, which was attended by national businessmen and Cuban residents, the diplomat praised the potential of this event, which exposes Cuba’s investment opportunities and economic development prospects and its projection towards the region and the world.
Prominent businessmen such as Giovanni Ferrari, manager of the Colón Free Zone, and Michael Chen, president of the Colón Chamber of Commerce, participated in the meeting.
In his speech, Cairo emphasized that the organizers are sure that the fair will count on a broad presence of local, foreign and, in particular, Panamanian businessmen. The official pointed out opportunities and areas that allow expanding the exchange bilateral trade, including tourism and airport transportation.
Cairo also explained the need to promote knowledge of regulations that facilitate trade between Panama -connection center of the Americas- and Cuba, alluding to investment protection and the current Economic Complementation Agreement.
For her part, Mabel Lora, commercial counselor of the Cuban embassy, offered details of innovative events during Fihav 2023, from November 6 to 11, at the Expocuba venue, including the 6th Investment Forum, a space for meetings between Cuban and foreign businessmen, potential foreign investors and to share ideas.
She also mentioned that for the first time in the exhibition there will be a pavilion for Cubans residing abroad and activities to promote the island’s exportable funds, which will include productions and services of the forms of state management, non-state and the productive poles.
The speakers indicated that this event, which has been taking place since 1983, is an excellent business platform for new companies in the market and for those already established. They also recalled that Fihav 2022 -carried out after two years of confrontation with Covid-19- had a successful result because companies from more than 60 countries, some twenty official delegations and 30 chambers of commerce were represented on that occasion.
The presentation of the trade show was attended as a guest by the general director of the Havanatur Group, Yoelkis Salazar, who highlighted the wide portfolio of opportunities in tourism in which the connection with Panama and the Caribbean region plays an important role.
