> >The US-Cuba Medical Trade Fair: I > > >Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit >.................................................................. > >THE US-CUBA TRADE FAIR: >INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AMIDST A COLD-WAR CUSTODY BATTLE > >(first of 3 articles) > > >The fact that a US-Cuba trade fair was held in Havana -- the first in >41 years -- is itself noteworthy. But the exhibition was even more >remarkable given the international struggle occurring at the same >time over custody of a young Cuban shipwreck disaster. Predictably, >while American media coverage of 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez's tragedy >reached an obsessive crescendo in late January, the mainstream press >paid scant attention to the successful exhibition of US medical and >health products, eagerly attended by Cuban and international visitors >from January 25-29 of this year. > >We are therefore happy to be able to bring readers outside Cuba >some substantive information about the exhibition, and comments >by some of the corporate and political figures involved in this >unique event. > >The article below and the 2 that follow include introductory remarks >by the Cuban and U.S. organizers, as well as comments by several >Americans who attended the fair and helped to organize it, and >interviews with U.S. and European entrepreneurs and corporate >exhibitors. This series, in english and spanish, provides an >interesting and more complete picture of the Trade Fair itself, as >well as a sense of the profound changes underway in the US-Cuba >relationship. -- NY Transfer News > > >US-Cuba Medical Products Fair >Pabexpo Exhibition Center, Havana, Cuba >January 25-29, 2000 > >I. Opening Remarks: > >Hictor Pirez Paez, Chairman, Cuban Chamber of Commerce: > >It has been an almost-two-year effort to hold the event that we are >opening today. Exactly one year has passed since the originally >agreed inauguration date, because the organizers were been unable to >obtain the proper licenses from the US Government for this purpose. >Today, at last, we are opening the first exhibition of American >medical products in Cuba, the first show by US companies in Cuba in >the last four decades. In this effort, recognition must be extended >to Mr. Peter Nathan for his perseverance and work in organizing this >commercial fair and the many hours dedicated to this event that we >are opening today. > >We do not ignore the fact that a large group of US businessmen and >women, representing important enterprises, had the courage and >determination to defeat some of the obstacles that kept us apart, and >who are able to be with us this morning. To them, we convey our >friendly greetings and recognition. Our recognition is expressed by >the fact that, even though our entire nation is very busy supporting >the relatives of Elian Gonzalez and their campaign to bring this kid >back home, this project has remain firm. This exhibition >demonstrates, among other things, that sectors within our northern >neighbor are seriously interested in maintaining a constructive and >respectful position, to establish a trading relationship with Cuba >and thus to change the status quo. > >Exhibitions like the one we open today are evidence of the business >community's capacity to develop initiatives that help us understand >our respective realities and the business environment in our two >countries. We are separated by a little strip of ocean; however, the >legal wall built around Cuba by the US government, compounded by an >unprecedented propaganda campaign against our country, is keeping us >way apart in commercial terms. > >As far as this Cuba blockade policy is concerned, the effective >prohibitions are such that they thwart any chance of normal trading >conditions, even in priority sectors of the public need, such as >public health. Cuban entrepreneurs understand that this situation >poses a serious dilemma for US businesspeople, who -- regardless of >their moral and ethical beliefs -- have been losing ground here in >the competition with the rest of the world. > >The economic and social cost for Cuba is equally high, particularly >in light of the adverse impact on the vital needs of our people. > >Notwithstanding this situation, our economy is recovering, we are >proud that since 1994, our country's GDP has been growing steadily -- >in 1999, by 6.2%. > >We have seen that the American businessperson understands that our >prevailing bilateral relationship is totally abnormal, and >inconsistent with the interest of the US and its companies. This is >perhaps the reason why more and more business missions are coming >here on an individual basis, through various chambers of commerce, >world trade centers or spontaneous groups, to see for themselves what >can be done in Cuba in terms of trade and investments. US >businesspeople are pursuing alternatives with their potential >business partners in Cuba and are reviewing scenarios for future >activities. The American agro-industrial sector has been in the >forefront of this effort, which certainly helps to clear the way >while we get to know each other better. > >Other US economic sectors are following this lead, and the Chamber of >Commerce of the Republic of Cuba has given and will continue to give >support and cooperation for their noble and just efforts. Common >sense is prevailing, and we are confident that this first exhibition >will be followed by other activities in the pursuit of what is right, >including normal trade ties between Cuba and the US. > >On behalf of the Convention Palace and its display ground Pabexpo, >and on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba, >representing its entire registered membership, I thank you again for >your presence in Havana and I invite you to visit the booths of our >Chamber of Commerce, Medicuba and the other Cuban companies in the >next room for any information related to our economy, our registered >members or any other information for future business. Welcome to >Cuba, and thank you very much. > > >Peter W. Nathan, Director, PWN exhibition international (Fair organizer): > >The road that all of us had to travel to arrive in this country has >not been easy, and I must commend all of the Cuban officials that we >dealt with for their excellent collaboration and assistance during >the past few years, and I especially commend many members of my own >government back in Washington, along with Congresswoman Maxine Waters >for her help in delivering this exhibition here today. But I would >rather that you use your valuable time to visit the exhibition and >listen to Ms. Waters, so thanks for coming. > > >Congresswoman Maxine Waters >U.S. House of Representatives (D-California) > >Thank you very much, I'd like to commend Mr. Peter Nathan for his >persistence and all his hard work to make this fair finally happen. >But of course we also had people working very hard here in Cuba and >others in the US government to make this trade show possible. I'm >very appreciative of those people who stuck with the idea that this >was possible. I appreciate all that you went through to be licensed >and to get your products here today. However, this is just the first >step. There are many obstacles to overcome beyond today, because of >the embargo. The details of how to actually get the products sold are >very, very frustrating. So let's see view this as only the beginning. >I know that you are not here to talk about the embargo, but that's >part of my work. Also, let me just say, in conclusion, that none of >this happens in a vacuum. We cannot be here thinking that we can do >business as usual, or trying to do business and ignore the fact that >the very reason we are here with these products is to provide an >opportunity to have the medical supplies and equipment, to the people >of Cuba who need them so desperately, and to the children who >desperately need them. You have the professionals here who can >provide good health care services, but they need supplies and >equipment. I dedicate this to all of the children, and especially >Elian. > >[In a later press conference, Ms. Waters spoke about the situation of >the Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez, and declared: "This is a matter between >the families, and we all hope that common sense will prevail... and >that in the final analysis, the boy will be returned to Cuba. >Obviously, that has not yet been accomplished. We now we face a more >complicated situation, with all the legal maneuvers involved, but I'm >convinced that the American public is on the side of parental rights, >I believe that the American public is on the side of traditional >values that we have thought about for so long and that are included >in the Constitution of the US, that we truly believe in family >values, and the natural right of parents to raise their children. We >all will keep working for the return of Elian."] > > >Comments by others attending: > >Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D - California) >U.S. House of Representatives > >I have visited Cuba many times, and I think this fair is very >important because we want to see efforts to end the embargo, and this >is one step. We know that providing medical supplies and equipment is >a major step in the right direction, and we know the humanitarian >aspect: people's lives can be saved. > >This fair creates a momentum, because these companies are part of the >awareness of the US business community about the realities of Cuba, >the barriers of the blockade and their implications, and also about >the business opportunities here. Those engaging in the export of >medical supplies and equipment create jobs for Americans; it's >mutually beneficial. So I hope that the pioneers in these waters go >back and spread the word, that other medical supply companies come >here. That also encourages more businesses to become active and helps >them understand the negative impact of the embargo on both sides. > >Once we increase the communication and contacts between businesses, >individuals and organizations, an awareness develops, and then you >can see the benefits. Many of the developments and discoveries of the >Cuban medical community, I think, are very important for the American >pharmaceutical and medical industry to know about. So I think that >once the business community becomes very focused on the benefits >they're losing out on here, they will become more active. > >I have been here several times and I have seen remarkable qualities >in the health-care system here. I'm very, very impressed with the >health-care system and the level of education and the professionalism >of Cuban health-care providers. > > >Anthony P. Delio, President >ADM Nutraceutical (USA) > >[ADM Nutraceutical, a division of of the agricultural chemical >giant Archer Daniels Midland, was a major exhibitor at the Trade >Fair.] > >I think the most important objective of this fair is to establish >contacts with key people in both the food industry and the medical >industry here; we see many business opportunities. As a follow-up of >the fair, it will arouse the interest of American pharmaceutical >industry about Cuban products in this field. I think there's a lot >for us to learn here from the Cuban medical community, considering >that Cuba spends far less per capita than the US but has been able to >achieve remarkably good health statistics, such as a lower rate of >infant mortality. Your life expectancy is almost the same as in >United States. I think it's done through preventive medicine, so >there's a lot of to learn about what is being done here. Also, I >think that when you see more business-to-business contacts in these >fields, there's going to be a lot of interest by American companies >in investing and learning about what is being done here in Cuba. > >We have been losing ground in Cuba, in relation to the European >countries. ADM has been one of the companies that for a long time >has spoken out against the embargo. The fact is that it has not >achieved its political objectives and it has really harmed American >industry and American farmers. It is estimated that if the embargo >were lifted, it would mean over 400 million dollars a year for the >American farmer in new income, which means around 400,000 jobs in >United States, so there would be benefits on the American side, as >well. The fact that Congresswoman Waters is here, that she made a >point of helping the organizers to achieve this from the American >side, is a big endorsement. It is also significant that the press is >here to cover this event, particularly in view of the unfortunate >situation of the boy Elian. Hopefully, this will get the kind of >attention that will begin a change in the politicians in the United >States, to realize this policy is not only ineffective, but also it >is really handicapping American business. > > -end- > > >================================================================= > NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems > Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us > 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 > http://www.blythe.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >================================================================= > >nytcari-02.07.00-08:05:07-32715 > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ >Cuba SI: http://www.egroups.com/group/cubasi/ >Imperialism NO! 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