FIHAV 2014 further established the
fair as the ideal place to develop stronger, more
efficient commercial relations, with well-defined
objectives, as evidenced during the presentation of
the country’s portfolio of investment opportunities;
of guarantees offered by the new foreign investment
law - No.118 approved this year; and progress being
made within the recently inaugurated Mariel Special
Development Zone.
During the fair’s closing ceremony,
Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, a Council of Ministers vice
president, commented that this year’s fair was a
landmark event, the first devoted to the promotion
of foreign investment, and was characterized as well
by greater technological development, careful
preparation, and the presentation of high quality
products.
He clarified that the portfolio of
proposals for foreign investors was not a list of
interesting ideas, but rather projects with well-defined
objectives reflecting the country’s Economic and
Social Development Program, which was conceived with
the participation of foreign capital taken into
consideration.
Cabrisas explained that the
attraction of foreign investment is being
prioritized, with the goal of stimulating the
production of goods and services, and encouraged
Cuban enterprises to not only maintain and develop
the commercial ties established during the Fair, but
to continue investigating countries where they could
forge new relations, to acquire capital and
technology.
Leaders of Cuban enterprises have
acquired greater responsibility as a result of
decisions made to separate government’s regulatory
responsibilities from those of management, which
imply greater autonomy and authority in running
socialist state enterprises, with more flexibility
and decentralization, Cabrisas said.
Cabrisas thanked the many business
people and official delegations for their
participation, which he said reflected growing
interest in the Fair on an international level.
PRIZEWINNERS
On the final evening of the event,
as is customary, prizes were awarded for best
product, exhibit, and design, as well as in other
categories. Cuba, Brazil and Spain were the big
winners with gold medals and honorable mentions for
quality products and design, among other
distinctions.
In the category of Best Pavilion,
acknowledged were Germany, Brazil, Argentina and
Mexico. With the most exhibitors in attendance, 132,
was Spain, while Brazil showed the greatest growth
in participation.
BUSINESS LEADERS COMMENT
There is no other event in the
region as well organized and attended as FIHAV,
according to Basque businessman Ignacio Uriarte,
president of the companies Idurgo (luxury flatware)
and Capeans (luxury tableware), also representing
Vicrila which manufactures crystalware.
The companies - Idurgo, 55 years on
the market; Capeans, 70; and Vicrila, 125 - are well
known in Spain for the quality and elegance of their
products, which can be found in everyday Spanish
homes and royal residences.
"Neither Chile, Argentina, or
Colombia have a fair like Havana’s, with this number
of exhibitors from the Americas and Europe, for
example. Here we have established business with a
small plant in Uruguay to train them to make our
products. This Fair is key for everyone."
As for the opportunities opening up
in Cuba, Uriarte said, "We have been established in
Cuba for 24 years. We have a joint company with the
Cuban government to manufacture flatware, which is
not operating at this time, but we want to establish
a strong presence.
"We are definitely going to start up
the flatware factory located in Santiago de Cuba,
the dish factory in the Isle of Youth, and the
crystalware one in the Havana municipality of La
Lisa."
Uriarte was confident that the three
plants will be operating in 2015, equipped with
modern technology and the latest machinery, ready to
produce approximately 300 million glasses and 30
million dishes annually.
"The Santiago de Cuba factory will
become a joint enterprise, administered totally by
Idurgo, and there, as in the other facilities, we
will contribute the know-how and equipment, while
Cuba will supply the workforce and qualified
personnel. Within three years, they will be handed
over to Cuban management."
His experience allows him to see
that supplying the tourist sector provides a
foundation for the projects, and makes possible a
strong presence on the island, which should lead to
further commercial ties.
"Now with the new foreign investment
law, the conditions are optimal to invest in Cuba,
in terms of taxes on localization and the workforce,
and other guarantees offered by the Cuban
government. This interests business people and,
after 24 years, we are not going to miss the
opportunity."
SPAIN OFFERS PRECISION ENGINEERING
Located on the outskirts of Madrid,
since 1998, is the family-owned company Escribanos,
which sent its director of development, Juan Manuel
García, to the Havana Fair with another view of
entering the Cuban market.
The company specializes in
fabricating precision mechanical parts for aviation
and other industries needing high quality
components.
The specialized machinery produced
by Escibanos can be used to manufacture landing gear
for aircraft, and adapted to produce a variety of
parts for other sectors.
The company is looking to not only
sell its equipment in Cuba, but hopes to establish a
strategic alliance with key enterprises. Escibanos
is prepared to transfer technology and knowledge to
expand the island’s industrial capacity, to support
the country’s ability to autonomously maintain the
equipment throughout its useful life.
"We cannot supply equipment which
contributes any benefit in the medium or long term.
We therefore see the transfer of technology, of
knowledge and support to the industrialization of
the country, as a much more effective vehicle for
the receiving country," García said.
"There are other advantages. You
create trained personnel, acquire technology which
can serve as a base for a diverse supply of
machinery parts for other sectors, more
sophisticated ones, or with specific characteristics,
for Cuban companies."
In addition to acquiring other
contacts during the Fair, the Spanish company met
Cuban companies interested in training, Garcia
reported, saying, "They have requested help in
training specifically in the use of machines with
five shafts, given the considerable number of
machines of this type we have in our factories, and
our industrial experience."