The visit by a mission from the Cuba Cooperation France (CubaCoop) association until this Thursday shows the possibilities for progress in areas such as food sovereignty, sports and climate protection despite the increasing obstacles of the economic siege on Washington.
CubaCoop President Víctor Fernández exclusively informed Prensa Latina that the purpose of this visit is to assess the progress of ongoing programs and to explore business opportunities for French communities and entrepreneurs.
He added that there are several decentralized cooperation agreements between Cuban and French territories with encouraging results in different sectors of Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
Fernandez reported that these days they held meetings with Cuban government agencies, producers and importers to develop businesses related to Cuba’s food sovereignty and it was agreed to further explore the possibility of entering into business deals of mutual interest, he explained.
He estimated that 24 municipalities of the European nation have given their consent to welcome Cuban athletes who are members of the island’s delegation to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as well as the teams conducting training and preparation bases or participating in qualifying events .
CubaCoop was created in 1995 to condemn the blockade and promote economic and cultural cooperation, bearing in mind that there are historical links between the two countries that many French people do not know about and this means being constantly aware of Cuban reality to speak, either in files or the information system put together by us that has been created within the association.
These coercive measures, which have lasted for more than six decades, have imposed numerous obstacles on CubaCoop’s work in Cuba, especially in the financial field, such as the refusal of two French banks to send funds to Cuba for fear of sanctions.
Fernández said that when French companies with North American participation conduct tenders for the purchase of equipment, in many cases they refuse to sell when the destination is Cuba for fear of losing their license, which has forced them to look for alternatives more distant places. .
The blockage is a reality for us too, so we have to be careful in the way we run some things as they can even block our access to funds, as has happened, he added.
CubaCoop has 15 committees and more than 500 members throughout France and plans this year, among other things, to convene a European forum of cooperation associations with Cuba to form alliances that favor the implementation of projects in key sectors of the Cuban economy.
Since March, a delegation from the French Solidarity Association has been visiting Cuban establishments and institutions to strengthen cooperation agreements, including the Havana Historian’s Office, the Victor Hugo House and the Latin American news agency Prensa Latina.
One of the key outcomes will be the tribute to Eusebio Leal during UNESCO’s Latin American Week in May, which will include a panel discussion on the outstanding Cuban intellectual and a photo exhibition.
ode/jfs