The Cold War is long since over. The U.S. has normal diplomatic and trade relations with Russia and the other former components of the Soviet Union, with China, and even with Vietnam, where it fought a boody and hugely controversial war. It is even negotiating with orth Korea—however reluctantly.
But relations with Cuba remain in the deep freeze, tenser perhaps than at any moment since the 1962 missile crisis…
ALBA A new dawn or simply a flash in the pan? Text By Johannes Werner
MTU Friedrichshafen and Hyundai Heavy Industries executives probably didn’t know what “hit" them earlier this year, when their Cuban subsidiaries landed contracts to sell a total of 180 diesel engines to Venezuela…
THE LOOKING GLASS WORLD OF EU POLICY TOWARDS CUBA Text By Professor Margaret Blunden
Even Conservatives in Western Europe are inclined to be scornful of the American economic embargo of Cuba, perhaps the longest running political tantrum in recent history. But Americans for their part might well ask whether the European Union’s own policy of “constructive engagement" has been any more effective in achieving what they both say they want, which is to bring democracy to Cuba.
A decade ago, the lawyer from Tampa, Florida and head of the local delegation of the Cuban American National Foundation (CANF) was feared for his tactics of disrupting any gathering that dared advocating a semblance of normal relations with Cuba.
What’s New 2007 Economic & business developments in Cuba during 2007 Text By Matthew Pickles
Foreign investment
The overall climate for foreign investment in Cuba has improved during 2007, especially for larger investors. Marta Lomas (Minister for Foreign Investment—MINVEC) said in September 2007 that “Cuba is ready for a second phase of opening towards foreign investment, without repeating the errors of the 1990s." While the number of economic associations has been further reduced to 237 (2006) from 403 (2002), overall Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 22% in 2006 to US$981 million (m).
THE CUBAN ECONOMY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS Economic slowdown or take-off? Text By Emily Morris
First off, Fidel Castro no longer smokes cigars—he gave them up in 1986 in an effort to promote non-smoking in a country with one of the highest rates of lighting-up in the world. Havana nonetheless remains a mecca for cigar smokers on an island where cigars play an intricate role in the country’s history, culture and everyday life.
CUBAN ECONOMY Debating reforms amid strong growth Text By Paolo Spadoni
It is more than a year since Fidel Castro fell ill, and no signs of major policy shifts toward market liberalization have emerged under the leadership of his younger brother Raúl. Yet, beneath the calm surface, a debate is taking place at different levels of Havana’s government, among prominent Cuban scholars, and even among ordinary people over potential reforms aimed to address the island’s crucial economic problems and enhance living conditions for all Cubans.
CUBAN DEBT Basket case or high performer? Text by Matthew Pickles
Views on the quality of Cuban-backed credit obligations often fall into two very different camps. There are those who consider anything to do with the tropical island is basically junk while others argue that in fact Cuba is an under-rated highly performing niche market.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. BUSINESS IN CUBA Text by Kirby Jones
Americans who ask what Cuba will be lie when it opens to foreign investment may be in danger of missing the boat. Visitors may not notice that they land at an airport financed by a Canadian banking consortium, take a Mercedes taxi to a hotel built by a French construction group and part owned by a Spanish hotel chain. They may though be surprised to be drinking Coca-Cola or Red-Bull in a bar located next to the Benetton, Adidas or Mango franchise. Indeed the confidence of many American investors that the best hotel sites are still untapped, that existing relationships will be simply rolled over and that flipping Havana waterfront condominiums will soon become the Havana vogue is not just misplaced but a misreading of both the current and likely future situation.
