Havana, Cuba.-After intense exchanges, the first forum on direct foreign investment (DFI) in Cuba associated to the Havana International Fair (FIHAV), main trade fair of the Caribbean region, will conclude today.

The decision to insert this kind of meeting on the fair’s agenda responds to the purpose of contributing to closer ties between foreign businessmen and their peers in Cuba, seeking the negotiation process more easy.

Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, opened yesterday exchanges, attended by 167 executives of companies from 38 countries.

More than 240 events for bilateral contacts were noted during the opening session of the forum, a figure higher than 200 potential businesses in which we can begin working, he appreciated.

Thursday’s agenda will include a panel discussion on opportunities open to DFI here, in which different firms will present their experiences and representatives of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC) and the World Economic Forum will participate.

Malmierca said that managers of entities involved in areas such as transportation, mining, tourism, food production and energy will be among exhibitors.

He particularly mentioned the presence of business representatives of companies such as Havana Club International, Coralsa, Iberostar, Biopower, MCV Comercial, Energas and Caribbean Mining.

As he explained, the Cuban business portfolio, updated for the third consecutive year, now includes 395 projects valued at more than $9.500 billion USD.

The 2016-2017 portfolio includes 69 proposals more than the previous 2015 edition, and 120 new initiatives, he said.

The Fair program will continue until November 4 with several activities, including bilateral contacts among companies from Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia, among other countries.