Cubas first trade mission to the Dominican Republic opened shop Monday at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel Convention Center before a group of business people and officials from the two countries.

Berta Verdura, minister-counselor at the Cuban embassy in Santo Domingo, opened the ceremony, noting that the main objective of the mission is to increase the level of bilateral exchanges.

The 32 percent growth in trade during the first quarter of 2007 justifies the impetus for negotiation of a bilateral accord, said Verdura.

The diplomat invited Dominican business people to participate in the 2nd Business Forum of the 118-member Non Aligned Movement to take place in Havana on November 2-3.

Dominican Secretary of State Onofre Rojas welcomed the executives to the Cuba business show representing his government, along with Octavio Ramirez, deputy secretary of Industry and Commerce.

The Cuban business delegation is headed by Carmen Rodriguez, director of the Chamber of Commerce in the eastern region of the island, headquartered in Santiago de Cuba. Rodriguez gave a presentation on the opportunities for doing business in Cuba and the procedures involved.
The services and products offered by Cuba are in the fields of hotels and catering, health products and services, light industry, metalworking industry, arts and crafts, furniture, veterinary medicine, sea transport and computer technology.

Source: Granma