Deputy Foreign Minister Spyros Kouvelis is carrying out a visit to Cuba from Friday 10/12 to Tuesday 14/12. During his visit, Mr. Kouvelis will meet with his Cuban counterpart as well as representatives from other Ministries with a view to strengthening the two countries’ economic and trade ties.
In particular, Mr. Kouvelis had a meeting on Friday with Agriculture Deputy Minister, Mr. Ramon Fromenta. Both Ministers ascertained significant potential for cooperation in areas of common interest such as farming, mainly as regards organic farming and forest protection.
More specifically, a proposal was tabled to examine possibilities of cooperation between Greek and Cuban agricultural research institutes aiming at an exchange of expertise and research on production and cultivation issues. The meeting also touched upon the potential for strengthening bilateral trade though agricultural product exchanges.
Mr. Kouvelis also met with Transport Deputy Minister, Mr. Lazaro Machado Martinez, with whom he discussed areas of common interest and more particularly, the shipping sector, programmes for the construction and regeneration of ports and the emerging sector of cruises.
The above mentioned issues are expected to be discussed at the Joint Interministerial Committee to be convened soon in Athens. Concurrently, it was agreed that contacts should be held between Greek enterprises and relevant Cuban agencies.
On Monday, Mr. Kouvelis will have a meeting with his Cuban counterpart, Mr. Rodrigez Barrera, with whom he is expected to sign a Joint Declaration on Greek-Cuban Cooperation.
Mr. Kouvelis will also meet with Food Industry Deputy Minister, Mr. Fray Moya. Finally, on Tuesday he will have a series of meetings with Science, Technology and Environment Deputy Minister America Santos, Foreign Trade and Investment Deputy Minister Orlando Guillen and Culture Deputy Minister Fernando Rojas.
December 12, 2010