Participants of the first international forum of young entrepreneurs at the XXXIX. International Fair in Havana. Photo: Ismael Francisco/ Cubadebate.
About 100 young Cuban entrepreneurs and those from other nations, representing all economic actors and coming from areas such as science, technology, innovation, information technology, communications and agriculture, are taking part in the First International Forum of Young Entrepreneurs, an initiative that was launched for the first time once in the program of the Havana International Fair.
In his opening speech, Israel Almeida Molina, a young Mincex specialist, noted this In the era of the fourth industrial revolution, the role of young people in the economy must be strengthened.
“It’s gratifying to see the entrepreneurial spirit on display in the room. This forum is conducive to seeing that Strategic role of youth in development” said.
He added that this is also an opportunity to break the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba. “Are young people who are deeply committed to their country. It’s not a slogan. Young people with ethics and innovators.”
The topics covered include: Presence of young people in the areas of digital transformation, innovation, ethics and social responsibility. What is striking is the gender perspective in the corporate environment and the approach that takes into account its contribution to socio-economic development.
The forum offers an important space for the direct exchange of experiences. The potential for strengthening cooperation and exchange between young Cuban and foreign business people was demonstrated there.
Present in the morning session this Thursday were Ana Teresita González Fraga, First Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, and Antonio Carricarte, President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce. Also the president of the Ibero-American Federation of Young Entrepreneurs (FIJE), the Uruguayan Matías Fernández.
In the Forum, part of the intensive program of meetings and professional and technical exchanges that marks the exhibition and business days at the XXXIX. Complementing the Havana International Fair, the event will bring together young Cuban and foreign businessmen, heads of the Youth Commission of the Eurasian Economic Commission from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, as well as representatives of youth ministries dedicated to youth entrepreneurship in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Honduras.
In his address to the participants, the President of the Ibero-American Federation of Young Entrepreneurs emphasized that young people are not the future but the present of the economy.“Because we were born with technology and have a vision of justice for the world.”
Fernández regretted that the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have not yet been achieved and emphasized the role of the youngest in this regard. “Companies shouldn’t just focus on economic goals; “You must also focus on social responsibility.”he claimed.
The Uruguayan congratulated the Cuban initiative and assured that FIJE will always support the event.
Julio Muñoz Castro, Coordinator of the Legal Guarantees Line of the National Youth Council of Colombia, commented Young people must have the ability to drive the development of communities and communities.
“There is a fundamental challenge: climate change. We must focus on life, more than the economy. Innovation must be articulated. We face the challenge of companies responding to the needs of Latin America,” he said.
In the first panel as part of the International Young Entrepreneurs Forum program, which was dedicated to the presence of young people in digital transformation processes, Carlos Miguel Pérez Reyes, president of the Cuban software development company Dofleinitalked about their beginnings as self-employed in 2014.
Dofleini currently employs more than 50 professionals who have studied at the most prestigious Cuban universities. Among the main results, Pérez Reyes noted the development of the Economic Actors Platform and the Cuban Business Guide.
Miguel Jorge Méndez, General Director of Guajiritos, another company specializing in software development, design, cloud management and social networking, commented that it started with “just five people with a lot of desire to do things.” At that time there weren’t many laws governing what we did. But we didn’t stop. Today we have 70 specialists. We operate 75% of the agencies within the Ministry of Tourism.”
Méndez stressed that one of his greatest satisfactions is making young people realize that they can carry out a life project in the country.
“Social responsibility is also fundamental. We saw it during the Covid-19 crisis or amid the impacts of hurricanes,” he said.
Later, Fernando Suárez Concepción, General Director of EMSI Farmawhich is dedicated to automating drug manufacturing processes in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, said they have a very close relationship with the university and received the Innovation Award in 2022.
Several speakers said Although the immigration issue also affects them, it is about creating the best incentives and working conditions. They also work with young university students and encourage them to complete pre-vocational internships in these companies.
During the second panel of the day, which focused on innovation and development, Tania Zulema, Head of Key Activities at Information Technology Company (ETI)referred to the work of this company in finding solutions for innovation.
Ana beatriz González, from the UH University Foundation for Innovation and Developmentsaid that his interface company aims to create an environment of innovation within the university by connecting with the rest of the economic actors.
He uncovered that Incubator experiencewhere young people take part in workshops to develop business models.
Finally, Camilo Serrallonga, Logistics Director of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnologysaid the company has experience and a solid tradition of innovation and teamwork.
“Many of our project managers are young people between the ages of 30 and 35, working alongside our company’s experts. Much of our research is based on the constant search for innovation and development. An example of this was the Abdala vaccine,” he said.
Some of the Colombian participants at the event considered technology transfer to be one of the biggest challenges facing the Latin American and Caribbean region. “We have to plan the maturation of the technological business model in order to then achieve real innovations”he showed.
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Fihav analyzes Cuba’s export market
Panel “Cuba: An attractive market for the region”, held as part of the Fihav 2023 program. Photo: Enrique González Díaz (Enro)/ Cubadebate.
The panel “Cuba: An attractive market for the region” It began with the presentation “Cuba: Trade Opportunities,” delivered by the Director of Exports of Goods and Services of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Yohanely Savigne.
The board analyzed the Behavior of the export market in Cuba, its strengths and which tools or websites the businessmen can access to learn how foreign trade transactions are carried out.
He highlighted that Cuba has a privileged geographical location and a population of approximately 11 million, making it one of the largest markets in the Caribbean. There is also a modern container terminal in Mariel, which promotes intra-regional exchange.
“They are elements that They encourage Cuba to introduce its export offer in each of the markets of Latin America and the Caribbean” said.
Savigne reiterated that a comprehensive strategy has been drawn up until 2026, reflecting the strategic sectors that Cuba wants to promote in exports, one of the national priorities for economic development.
In this sector of the Cuban economy, goods account for 28%: nickel, seafood, beers, rum and liqueurs, juices and nectars, jams, preserved fruits, sauces and dressings, honey, tobacco and cigarettes, fruits, vegetables and grains, coffee and cocoa and biopharmaceutical products.
At the end of 2022, Resolution 220 was adopted, which contains the methodology for conducting foreign trade operations in goods in our country.
Aside from that, Services cover 72% of exports: medical services, wellness and quality of life services, tourism services, telecommunications, ICT and international parcel delivery and professional technical services.
The Director of Export of Goods and Services of Mincex noted that further work needs to be done to expand this offer. “There are many opportunities, both in the cultural sector, in sports and in the creation of new high-tech companies.that have an important niche for internationalization.”
Our development axis – he said – is the diversification of exports with a view to systematic, personalized monitoring focused on potential new business opportunities.
“We accompany the corporate sector in promoting its export offer with our economic and commercial offices abroad, promotion centers such as ProCuba (Centre for the Promotion of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of Cuba) and the Chamber of Commerce, which they allow us to have an export-ready, specialized in the market “To draft an offer,” he commented.
Likewise, he highlighted the Map of Cuban Exports, a tool that makes it possible to identify the specific export offer of each province.
Savigne emphasized this Importance of exporting from the municipality and the province and that the export potential is identified from the territory.
He reported that there are 13 productive export centers in the country to date. “It is an integrative concept that generates production chains in which several companies come together for export.”
He also mentioned that Single Window for Foreign Trade, a platform under development that streamlines companies’ procedures for conducting foreign trade transactions. Four services are currently offered: user accreditation, import or export authorization, customer and supplier registration and possible approvals.
The second presentation of the panel was made by ProCuba’s Head of Commercial Intelligence, Elaine Pérez, who addressed the basic steps to be taken into account when doing business with Cuba, the supporting institutions, the Cuban regulatory framework and the conditions of access to national ones Market.
The panel “Cuba: An Attractive Market for the Region” was chaired by the Director of ProCuba, Roberto Verrier Castro, and the General Director of the Mariel Special Development Zone, Ana Teresa Igarza.