Raúl Castro and Díaz-Canel visit a strategic enclave in Cuba

The first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC), Raúl Castro, and the president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, visited on Saturday the  Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEN), a strategic enclave in Cuba.

Accompanied by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, the leaders received a detailed explanation of the Zone's investments, reported Granma newspaper in its digital version.

During their tour, the island's top leaders went to the factory of disposable diapers and feminine protectors, belonging to the Thai Binh Global Investment Corporation, the first Vietnamese company to establish itself in the Zone.

Raul Castro commented on his happiness that the Zone's first factory to visit was precisely from that Asian nation. In recent days the 60 years of diplomatic relations were celebrated.

Likewise, he highlighted the Zone's strategic importance, which he described as a marvel, not only for the country but also for Artemisa province. He mentioned the remarkable speed with which investments in that site are advancing.

He indicated to continue with the deepening of the bay so that it can receive super post-Panamax vessels.

The Special Development Zone Director, Ana Teresa Igarza, pointed out that infrastructure and the attraction of investments converge in that place.

She said that 55 business deals had been achieved so far, 31 of them are already operational. They cover essential areas such as food, light and steel industries, construction, electronics, logistics, energy, and financial and banking branches.

For his part, Eduardo Martínez, President of BioCubaFarma, offered details of the Industrial Biotechnology CIGB-Mariel, a research and industrial complex with 100 percent Cuban capital that will meet the most demanding standards of that sector in the world.

Díaz-Canel considered that an economic impact is noticed in the Cuban entities that commercialize their products to the Zone, which retain part of their income for their development. He highlighted that there are still many potentialities to be exploited.