Hollande’s task: Reinforce France’s presence in Cuba

Hollande’s task: Reinforce France’s presence in Cuba

Le Maine Libre • January 30, 2016

After signing lucrative contracts with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani this week, Paris wants to reinforce the presence of French companies in a country that’s gradually opening up to the market economy.

With about 180 million euros in annual trade, France, one of Cuba’s top ten partners, wants to profit from the rapprochement begun in April 2014 during a visit to the island by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

Paris wants a presence in Cuba not only to gain influence in Latin America but also to compete on the island against U.S. and European enterprises that are eyeing a rich tourist treasure and a source of skilled labor.

“Commercial exchanges are not yet up to the level of our ambitions,” confided Friday (Jan. 29) the Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl to the French newspaper L’Humanité.paris text breaker

During this visit, Havana and Paris should set an economic roadmap and conclude agreements in the fields of tourism, transport and fair trade, Paris sources say.

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