U.S. Chamber of Commerce Seeks New Bonds with Cuba 2014.05.30 - 09:28:49 / ACN

Thomas J. Donohue, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States expressed on Thursday in this capital his interest in boosting a greater rapprochement between the U.S. business community and Cuba, in favor of the progress of the two peoples.



As part of his visit to the island, which began on Tuesday, accompanied by other important members of his executive, Donahue gave a keynote lecture at the main lecture hall of the University of Havana, in which he offered his impressions on the change of approach relations between the two countries demand today.



This is the moment to give the new generations of Cuban and U.S. citizens the opportunity to know each other better, do business and support each other as friends and neighbors, pointed out the businessman, who for years has opposed the economic, commercial and financial blockade Washington has imposed on Cuba for over half a century now.



For many years, the policy has been marked by differences between the two governments and it’s time to change that approach, asserted Donohue in the presence of Rodrigo Malmierca, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, and of Gustavo Cobreiro, rector of the University.



In the presence of students and Cuban State and government officials, Donahue stated that the presidency of Barack Obama could create new ways to increase imports and exports between the two nations, in addition to expanding diplomacy and promoting people-to-people exchanges.



Donohue’s schedule included a tour of the Special Development Zone of Mariel, on which the visitor stressed the importance of the enclave in the expansion of Cuba’s economic bonds with the world, and to understand that direct foreign investment is a powerful tool in the creation of jobs and wealth.



The mission will meet with businessmen and officials of the Caribbean nation in search of new business and investment opportunities on the island, and takes place a few days after 44 U.S. personalities asked President Obama to ease the blockade.