The forum is co-chaired by Cuban Minister for Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Rodrigo Malmierca and French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Riester.

Malmierca and Riester held a meeting before the Commission started, to ensure the monitoring to the implementation of the Paris-Havana economic agenda signed in February 2016, and the Meeting of the Strategic Orientation Committee, in charge of managing and coordinating the Equity Fund established in the framework of the bilateral debt structuring agreement.

Tourism, energy, health, transportation, agricultural production and sustainable urban development stand out among the issues addressed by the two delegations in face-to-face meetings, after last year’s Covid-19 pandemic motivated its holding via videoconference.

At the end of the sessions, six new cooperation instruments, two financing approval notifications and four agreements are expected to be signed.

France is among Cuba’s top 10 trading partners, links with growth potential, despite the extraterritorial impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba and its tightening.

Malmierca is carrying out an extensive agenda in Paris, with meetings with authorities and businessmen, and has a scheduled meeting with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

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