The International Fair in Havana, FIHAV 2016, concluded last Friday, a gathering that included the distinguished participation of Basque businesses and institutions, with the some 30 Basque businesses in attendance and representation from the Basque Government, Chambers of Commerce and the Provincial Governments in Araba, Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia. The event served to reinforce business relations between the Basque Country and Cuba that already has several Basque companies established in its territory.
Havana, Cuba. The Basque Government, provincial entities and Chambers of Commerce from Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa participated last week in the FIHAV Festival in Havana. The goals was to reinforce business and industrial collaboration with Cuba. The commercial mission included the participation of 32 Basque businesses, 14 from Gipuzkoa, 14 from Bizkaia, and 4 from Araba, in various sectors, highlighting energy, motors and hotel fluid and equipment handling specifically.
The Basque participation also included a prominent showcase in the Basque Pavilion, an area especially dedicated to Basque businesses. This model of participation, in the Basque Pavilion started to be used in 1999, and since then every year has included similar participation.
Institutional Representation
The Basque Government was represented by the Vice-Minister of Industry, Javier Zarraonaindia, and the Director of Internationalization, Ainhoa Ondarzabal. On behalf of the Provincial Government of Gipuzkoa, the Deputy of Economic Promotion, Rural and Territorial Balance, Ainhoa Aizpuru. In addition to the institutional representation representatives from Chambers of Commerce from all three aforementioned provinces also attended.
Among the meetings held throughout the week, the meeting between Zarraonaindia and Ondarzabal with the Ministry of Industry, Salvador Pardo Cruz and the Vice-Minister of Energy Javier Ruben Cid Carbonell is worth mentioning. These meetings serve to update the commitment of both governments to collaboration and to facilitate the activity of Basque companies in that country.
Currently there are 40 companies established in Cuba although the commercial relation of Basque companies is closer to 130 businesses.
Cuba’s Euskal Etxea
The institutional agenda also included a meeting with the board of directors of the Euskal Etxea in Cuba, but as Renato Garcia Eguskiza told EuskalKultura.com, the meeting had to be cancelled due to lack of time. The Basque club in Cuba is interested in trying again and enhancing partnerships between municipalities and provinces, one of the themes that was to be discussed at the meeting.
The Basque club is also preparing to celebrate its 140th anniversary in 2017. Among the activities planned, are some commemorative events, conferences on the subject, and screenings of Basque films, among others.
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