vergrössern

Sandra Espinosa Manzano

Official constituted on April 29, 2005 with foreign capitals and assets of its own, the BIVC is the only one of its kind authorized to run operations in Cuba, with 99 percent of all shares in the hands of Banco Industrial de Venezuela C.A., a state-run institution operated by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and founded over seven decades ago.
In this exclusive interview with Excelencias magazine, Mrs. Sandra Espinosa Manzano, with a degree in Economic Sciences and an expert in Foreign Trade –she has run the front office of the Banco Industrial de Venezuela Cuba (BIVC) over the past three years- spelled out the banking entity’s policy:
“The Banco Industrial de Venezuela Cuba (BIVC) fosters and encourages commercial relations and exchanges among countries of the regions, driving the development of sustainable programs of tremendous impact in the generation of productive and service capabilities on the basis of the best experiences possible for mutual benefits.
“The BIVC also conducts other humanitarian missions in those centers that belong to the Cuba-Venezuela Healthcare Agreements and in a number of political, social and cultural activities summoned by the embassy of Venezuela in Cuba.”

In eight years of operations, the BIVC has garnered prestige and acclaim in Cuba. How has it encouraged local small companies?
We have financially eased the job of small companies and enterprises under rational payment schemes that have contributed to the development and sustainability of production, and we have tagged along local entities in their efforts to tap into the productive potentials of their territories by creating jobs and services for the communities.

The BIVC has had a presence in different economic and social activities, specifically in such sectors as agriculture, farming, food processing, power generation, metals, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and others. How does the bank lay out, assess and control those funds?
Funds and credits are outlined in different ways, such as short-term and midterm credit lines, simple loans, financial leasing, factoring, discounts on commercial assets on certain credits and loans aimed at encouraging providers that keep ties with national companies and enterprises.
The assessment and analysis, the follow-up on credits and the permanent consultancy for customers and payment management have allowed us to remain in the black, with a sound loan portfolio, and that means strength for our assets and savings.

What’s the BIVC’s strategic projection in terms of trade among Latin American and Caribbean nations?
We’re planning on claiming a spot in the Mariel Special Development Zone by offering our services to license holders and authorized dealers stationing there, as well as on bankrolling a number of productive and service-oriented activities that would eventually allow for bigger trade among countries in our region.
It’s interesting to see the support to the negotiations for the SUCRE currency, and for that reason we have the authorization of Cuba’s Central Bank and the Banco Operativo (BOA) del Sistema Unitario de Compensación Regional de Pago.