The purpose that, in perspective, Cuba will play an increasingly important role in supplying biotechnological products to Vietnam was expressed by Ambassador Orlando Hernandez Guillen here on Friday.

The common desire to advance in that direction and the incessant development of Cuban biotechnology are elements that should enable us to achieve that goal, the diplomat stressed after signing a commercial contract between the Vietnamese group AMV and the Havana-based Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB).

The great emphasis that Vietnam’s top leadership has made on ensuring that the country reaches a top place in the development of this branch in the region in the coming years is well known, said Hernandez Guillen, who noted that prior to the signing of the agreement they held a profitable work meeting.

We have projected the lines to follow in 2023 and from now on, he said, and stressed that this is a special year to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first visit by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, to Vietnam and especially to the area liberated from Quan Tri, in southern Vietnam.

The Cuban ambassador recalled with gratitude that the workers of AMV Group (formerly known as Almedic JSC), made a valuable contribution to Cuba to help compensate for the damage caused by a devastating fire at the Matanzas supertanker base.

The desire to advance in cooperation was also revealed by the president of the Vietnamese business group, Pham Nguyen Binh Minh, who praised the uninterrupted work done over the last two decades with the CIGB and whose results he described as satisfactory.

In 2022 we fulfilled the commitments made and the agreements reached during the visit by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, and this year we will also do everything to meet or exceed the goals set, he asserted.

We hope that the Year of the Cat will bring us new achievements, predicted Binh Minh, who anticipated that, in addition to the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, they will continue to negotiate with other Cuban suppliers in that industry.

The executive referred to his visit to Cuba last November, and said that he was able to verify that changes are taking place, particularly with regard to attracting foreign investment, for which he urged other Vietnamese business people to make exploratory trips and seek new avenues in order to strengthen cooperation and trade.