Cuba and Louisiana Boost Economic Exchange

Cuba and the US state of Louisiana signed today in this capital city memoranda of understanding on agriculture and port relations as part of a process of exchange and strengthening of economic ties.

The first memorandum, signed by the National Port Authority of Cuba and the Association of Ports of Louisiana, includes facilities of Louisiana, New Orleans and Lake Charles.

Meanwhile, the second memorandum was signed by the Cuban Agricultural Business Group and the Department of Agriculture and Forestry of Louisiana.

Before the signing, Louisiana governor and head of the delegation John Bel Edwards said that the legislators from that state, passed a resolution to ask the executive legislature to strengthen ties with Cuba to seize the present business opportunities and those to come.

For her part, Director of Trade Policy with North America from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade Maria de la Luz B'Hamel expressed her confidence that the business forum, held on occasion of the signing, will help to identify potential areas for exchange.

However, she said that ties between Cuba and the United States will only become normal when the economic, commercial and financial blockade, which also affects US people, is lifted.

The Louisiana delegation will visit Cuba until Friday and, according to the agenda, has planned meetings with Cuban authorities from various fields, as well as visits to the Mariel Special Development Zone and the Agriculture University of Havana.