• Submitted by: Luis Manuel Mazorra
• Business and Economy
• 11 / 08 / 2011

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The XXIX International Fair of Havana (FIHAV 2011) held last week in Havana was the largest in the last 10 years. Despite the difficult global economy is the event has made its way into the shadows and has achieved an unexpected success.

It is least surprising win of this year's main stock Cuban trade, which each year brings the attention of all the 25 wards ExpoCuba traditional exhibition space.

For some years, as a result of economic and noneconomic, decreased the presence of foreign business, the one that almost three decades ago, in 1982, opted for our country in the first edition, which was attended by only 60 entrepreneurs from Cuba, Spain and Panama, representing 60 firms and an exhibition area of ​​800 square meters installed in the Palace of Conventions.

On this occasion was attended by 1,500 firms from 60 countries, of which about 150 came for the first time ExpoCuba, which used more than 18,600 square meters of exhibition space, 13,500 of them for visitors.

Against all odds, the trade meeting has been maintained and that makes many to wonder what is the reason that survives and grows an event of this nature in a nation harassed, underdeveloped and with a relatively small market.

First, the crisis itself causes many companies to seek business opportunities where, although in some cases have to go around the globe to reach the new market.

On the other hand, Cuba is a reliable partner, as the president said FIHAV Organizing Committee, Abraham Maciques, "has managed to honor their financial commitments," which gives added value to the establishment of any economic relationship with the island .

But perhaps the most interesting is the almost unanimous interest in finding areas of mutual benefit from the provisions of the Guidelines approved in April by the Sixth Party Congress.

The transformation now in the country attracts the attention of many, so in other fairground pavilions were heard matching criteria, discharges or business officials far from the political position of Cuba.

The charge d'affaires of the European Union delegation in Cuba, Spanish Javier Niño, said that for the block, the process of updating the Cuban economic model is an exciting time that comes when there are problems in the Old Continent

In the same sense, said the ambassador of Great Britain, Dianna Melrose, who called for increased bilateral trade and investment in priority areas by the Guidelines and in that sense mentioned tourism as a sector advanced.

"Our trading strategy takes into account these guidelines," he said on his part the Russian Ambassador Mikhail Kaminin, who said that this is the reason for the presence of several Russian companies in FIHAV 2011, although it also highlighted the good political climate between Moscow and Havana.

Also, the Brazilian ambassador José Eduardo Martins Felicio said that the business of their country not only come here to sell, but to help in the effort to update the Cuban economic model, and help increase the export capacity of the island and reduce imports.

The truth is that the changes taking place in the country are very attractive for foreign entrepreneurs who envisions the possibility of new business in a nation that struggles to reinvigorate its economy and that, perhaps, is the secret of success of the Fair.