What is the extent of bilateral trade between the two countries?

The bilateral trade is still small and does not represent the real potential of the economies of both countries. We consider that this has been influenced by the lack of information about our markets and specific interests both in the business sector in Cuba and in India. Also, we know that many Cuban companies import Indian products in non-negligible quantities through intermediaries from other countries, which we should amend. We have worked to provide all the necessary information, to help identify opportunities and of course to put companies in direct contact.

Today, Cuban imports of Indian products are mainly associated with active pharmaceutical ingredients, agricultural products, machinery in general and food products. While the Cuban products that enter India have fundamentally to do with products from the biotechnology industry, tobacco, raw materials in general, among others.

Recently the Cuban Government including the Ministry of Tourism and the MGM Muthu Group organized a FAM tour from India and other countries. What is the expectation from this tour?

The main industry in Cuba is tourism and unfortunately, little is known in India about the benefits of Cuba in this sector. Therefore, the first objective is to make the Indian public aware of all the wonders and attractions of Cuba as a tourist destination. Cuba is known worldwide for its natural beauties: the most beautiful beaches in the world, its crystalline and blue water, and its fine sand; for the greenery of its fields and mountains. However, Cuba offers even more than that to India. Cuba is a country with a very strong and rooted cultural and historical tradition. Our rich cultural and historical heritage is reflected in the 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The mixture of our culture and identity is also shown in the immense variety of our music and dance, there is no one who can resist dancing to the son, the cha cha cha, the mambo, the bolero, everything that is summarized today internationally as salsa. It is reflected in our highly recognized literary artistic expression and our visual arts.

Everything is reflected in our traditions, in our rum, the mojito, the guayabera, the cigar, in our strong and sweet coffee, in our blue and crystalline beaches and the green of our fields and mountains where the royal palm is the queen, in the colorful and noisy streets of Havana or Santiago. We want the Indian visitor to be able to enjoy all this, but above all that, they come closer to our towns every time and to be able to offer the Indian visitors our friendship, our open, sincere and frank way of behaving and our smile. We are working on this objective and there is a large Indian delegation in Cuba, made up of art personalities, influencers, journalists, etc. We hope to continue working on the promotion of Cuba and the creation of better conditions for the Indians to travel to our country. We want to receive Indian tourists as what they are for us: friends.

Would you say that the investments made by the Muthu Group attract similar investments in the hospitality sector from India?

Muthu Group has done excellent work in Cuba and already has a space earned with its excellent work in the tourism sector. Its hotels are widely recognized and offer tourism options of different types, both beach and city. The Grand Muthu Havana hotel, opened this year, has already become one of the most relevant in the Cuban capital city. That is why Muthu Group shows the way and is an example of the cooperation that we can achieve in the tourism sector and the high potential that exists. Tourism being the first industry in Cuba and with growing possibilities, there are investment opportunities and economic projects of different modalities, not only in the hotel sector, but also in all services associated with tourism, retail sales, amusement parks, golf courses, etc. Cuba even offers attractions for airlines to be used as a hub to other destinations in the region. Tourism, in addition, promotes exchange between peoples and cultural exchange and in Cuba all the conditions exist for the successful realization of film and musical productions.