Santiago de Cuba welcome the 9th International Fair, EXPOCARIBE. On this occasion, steps were taken towards a future treatment of subregional free trade that could be established in 2002. Excellences magazine was as usual present in the Fair and agreed to release this new event.

The magazine was represented in the Fair by a 9 m2 booth and elegant girls wearing Excellences promotional bands contributed to highlight the occasion. Many personalities visited the booth among them the member of the Political Bureau and First Secretary of the Communist Party in Santiago, Juan Carlos Robinson, as well as other authorities from the eastern province and officials from the City Government and from Cuba. During the Fair, agreements were signed of partial scope in matters such as tariffs that will contribute to have a better trade flow in the so-called Mediterranean of the Americas. In line with this thinking, the recently appointed Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade, Raúl de la Nuez, stated that the area requires an urgent need for development so as not to be left behind when the irremediable economic integration of the planet takes place. In fact, EXPOCARIBE-2000 with some 900 firms coming from 41 countries goes beyond its national significance to become a bridge of negotiations so as to materialize the Caribbean aspiration of being a consolidated and strong area. EXPOCARIBE has allowed the to raise their export items to 54 and though the predominant products continue, new products began being promoted. The Minister of Foreign Trade informed that since the end of 1999, an agreement is being negotiated of a partial scope with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It was stated that the transportation between Cuba and the other Caribbean islands continue being the Achilles’ heel in relation to the trade in this area, due to the prohibitions set by the embargo. He stressed that emphasis has been placed in the improvement of air transportation. This will contribute to have a better flow of passenger and regional trade.

Raúl de La Nuez. The Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade visited our booth during EXPOCARIBE ‘2000

The recently appointed Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade, Raúl de la Nuez, visited the booth of Excellences during the International Fair of EXPOCARIBE’2000. A hard work will have to be faced by De La Nuez who replaced Ricardo Cabrisas. De la Nuez is just 51 years of age, and have already held the position of executive president of the joint business of Sherritt International (Canada). De la Nuez still runs the Cuban Union of Nickel, along with his position of Minister of Foreign Trade. Graduated as a non ferrous metallurgic engineer, De la Nuez also held the position from 1992 to 1994 of vice minister of the Basic Industry. The minister expressed words of recognition when referring to the Excellences booth. He took advantage of his visit to our booth to read for some minutes our magazine No. 23 which contained a background article on the city of Santiago de Cuba, as well as interviews of outstanding figures of EXPOCARIBE’2000 Fair.