HAVANA: The U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker wrapped up a two-day visit to Cuba, part of an effort to sell officials on the idea of closer business ties with their former Cold War enemy.
Pritzker is in Cuba for two days, leading a delegation of officials from the U.S. Treasury, Commerce and State departments for meetings with officials from Cuban government ministries and businesses.
Pritzker, a hotel heiress who was instrumental in helping her family expand their Hyatt empire, will be discussing recent measures approved by the U.S.to loosen strictures of an embargo, which has been in place since 1960. The first official visit was Secretary of State John Kerry in August for the ceremonial embassy opening.
The aim of Pritzker’s visit is to debate issues surrounding the United States’ new economic and commercial policy and to analyze the limitations that continue to be imposed on both countries by the embargo.
Since the USA and Cuba announced a year ago they were restoring relations, U.S. President Barack Obama has pushed for the restrictions to be scrapped.
After Obama announced his administarion’s new approach toward Cuba, Rubio called Obama’s sense of foreign policy naïve and even “willfully ignorant of the way the world truly works”. The reforms have primarily benefited private activity in the food and services industries but have not yet reached higher professional spheres.
She is also set to meet Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Vice President of the Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas.
Foreign companies operating in Cuba – joint ventures in their majority – can not hire their personnel directly, but are obliged to do so through a State intermediary.
Secretary Penny Pritzker started her visit with a stop at the Mariel free trade zone near Cuba’s capital of Havana.
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