December 2009
Cuba continues tradition of not paying international debts
Posted December 21, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (40 comments)
Once again, Cuba has to renegotiate its debts. How can the Cuban government continue to bitch and moan about the US Embargo decade… Read More
Cuba farming and agricultural reforms update
Posted December 17, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (1 comments)
By Helen Popper | Reuters Cuban farmer Saudiel Lazaro wears a broad smile under his wide-brimmed hat as he prepares two young… Read More
Cuba wastes 58% of pumped aqueduct water each year
Posted December 17, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
EFE Some 58 percent of the water pumped by Cuba’s aqueducts is lost due to the distribution network’s poor condition, Vice… Read More
Cuban government unable to meet housing demands in Cuba
Posted December 17, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (4 comments)
AP Cuba built about 20,000 homes in 2009, meeting barely 60 percent of its modest annual construction goal and further exacerbating… Read More
Direct mail from US to Cuba information
Posted December 09, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (1 comments)
DEBRA MITCHELL | U.S. Postal Service On September 8, 2009, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a Federal Register final rule… Read More
Fewer sugar mills in Cuba to operate this zafra season
Posted December 04, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (4 comments)
Marc Frank | Reuters The first of 44 Cuban sugar mills scheduled to grind during the 2009-2010 harvest opened on Thursday, official… Read More
November 2009
Cuba and the Convertible Peso
Posted November 20, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (27 comments)
Cuba has more than one peso Cuba has always been known as one of the hottest travel destinations in the Caribbean. Before the… Read More
New Artisan’s Market on Avenida del Puerto in Habana Vieja Cuba
Posted November 17, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (1 comments)
Havana Journal The traditional Artisan Market of the Cathedral Square has found a new venue in a recently refurbished Pier store,… Read More
FIHAV 2009 - Havana International Trade Fair wrap up
Posted November 16, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Photos by SRM This year’s 27th annual International Business Fair at ExpoCuba in Havana, better… Read More
Cuba’s financial problems getting worse
Posted November 12, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (40 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuba has ordered all state enterprises to adopt “extreme measures” to cut energy usage through… Read More
State of technology and communications in Cuba
Posted November 07, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
By SHEILA RILEY | FOR INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY Cuba, land of beaches, salsa clubs, aging U.S. cars and .. . high-tech?… Read More
Cuba to get oil from Caracas Accord, wants less dependence on Chavez
Posted November 07, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuba has chosen to pay a steeper price than it has to for Venezuelan oil so it can discourage itself from… Read More
Pedro Freyre, Jay Brickman etc on US Cuba business realities and opportunities
Posted November 06, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
The world recession has caused more intense screening of business executives seeking Cuban visas and has slowed down decision-making… Read More
Russia to drill for oil in Gulf of Mexico off Cuba
Posted November 04, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Russian state oil company Zarubezhneft signed contracts with Cuba on Tuesday to search for oil along Cuba’s… Read More
Cuba blocks Revolico classifieds site and Skype
Posted November 02, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (3 comments)
By Esteban Israel | Reuters A popular website of classified ads that has given Cubans a taste of the free market has been blocked… Read More
October 2009
Imports to Cuba and exports from Cuba decline sharply in 2008
Posted October 20, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Business between Cuba and four of its top five trading partners has declined sharply this year in a reflection… Read More
Cuba does not want US telecommunications companies to operate in Cuba
Posted October 19, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (3 comments)
By Nick Miroff | Global Post For years, U.S. mobile phone companies and internet providers have been banned from doing business… Read More
Cuba Business Development Group launched in preparation for better US Cuba ties
Posted October 15, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (1 comments)
Press Release Fuego Enterprises, Inc. (PinkSheets:FUGI - News) spun off on October 12, 2009 a newly incorporated shell company… Read More
China leader meets with Castros and will “loan” Cuba money to buy 10 cargo ships
Posted October 05, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (5 comments)
Latin American Herald Tribune Wu Bangguo, speaker of China’s National Assembly and second secretary of the country’s ruling… Read More
September 2009
Cuba continues to block access to foreign business bank accounts
Posted September 30, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (5 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Many foreign suppliers and investors in Cuba are still unable to repatriate hundreds of millions of dollars… Read More
US intellectual property rights in Cuba
Posted September 27, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
BY JUAN O. TAMAYO | ElNuevoHerald.com While the Cuban patents credit the individual inventors who worked on the developments,… Read More
How to do business in Cuba
Posted September 14, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (4 comments)
BY MIAMI HERALD STAFF Across the street from the massive Karl Marx theater sits a beige-colored building that has become a critical… Read More
Miami Havana ferry waiting for OFAC approval
Posted September 14, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (1 comments)
DAMIEN CAVE | Miami Herald Imagine a ferry from Miami to Havana that costs far less than a flight. Cuban-Americans, who can now… Read More
The business opportunity for US companies in Cuba telecommunications
Posted September 10, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (3 comments)
Reuters In measures originally announced in April and implemented last week, U.S. President Barack Obama has relaxed aspects of… Read More
China gives Cuba $600,000 in “loans”, credits and grants - with commentary
Posted September 03, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (3 comments)
(Article by AFP - comments added by Havana Journal Publisher) Wu Bangguo (R), President of the Parliament of the People’s… Read More
Cuba considering easing central control of economy
Posted September 01, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (6 comments)
By Marc Frank in Havana | Financial Times The Cuban government is considering easing its stranglehold on the retail sector in… Read More
August 2009
Sanofi-Aventis drug company opens office in Havana Cuba
Posted August 04, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (2 comments)
VITO ECHEVARRÍA | Cuba News In June, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi-Aventis said it would establish an office in Havana —… Read More
Grocery stores in Cuba closed for “inventory”
Posted August 04, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (1 comments)
AP Upscale grocery stores that were scheduled to close two days last week for inventory remained shuttered Monday — sparking… Read More
Cuba to cut spending but keep central control over economy
Posted August 02, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (6 comments)
By WILL WEISSERT | Associated Press Raul Castro announced Saturday that Cuba will cut spending on education and health care, potentially… Read More
July 2009
Cuba postpones Communist congress due to “very serious” economic crisis
Posted July 31, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Cuba on Friday suspended plans for a Communist Party congress and lowered its 2009 economic growth projection… Read More
Cuba may allow for less state control of economy
Posted July 29, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cash-strapped Cuba should consider putting more of its state-run economy in the hands of producers, as… Read More
Russia to “loan” more money to Cuba for “trade”
Posted July 28, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (2 comments)
UPI (Original title: Russia, Cuba negotiate $150M trade loan) Moscow says it will negotiate a $150 million loan with Cuba for… Read More
Less phones per capita in Cuba now than in 1958
Posted July 23, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (0 comments)
Juan O. Tamayo | ICCAS Cuba’s cellular telephone service mushroomed in 2008, but the remainder of its telecommunications and… Read More
State of Cuban economy - not so good
Posted July 22, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuba is cutting estimates of imports by billions of dollars this year and projecting a decline in export… Read More
Cuba restricts foreign businesses from withdrawing funds from Cuban banks
Posted July 11, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (1 comments)
TheCubaBlog.com is reporting that two banks in Cuba have stopped foreign businesses from withdrawing or transfering funds. The… Read More
Brazil to finance construction of shipping port Mariel in Cuba
Posted July 11, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (1 comments)
By Jeff Franks | Reuters Brazil said on Thursday it would give Cuba up to $300 million in credits to start rebuilding the island’s… Read More
Cuba postpones plans to drill for oil again
Posted July 08, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
Cuba and a consortium of foreign oil companies have again postponed plans to drill for oil in the island’s still-untapped… Read More
June 2009
Cuba as a technology center? Maybe someday
Posted June 23, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (2 comments)
By Clive Thompson | Wired Magazine Back in the ‘80s, Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Western Europe, with unemployment… Read More
Economic situation in Cuba getting worse
Posted June 14, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (7 comments)
Marc Frank | Reuters Cuban factories are closing down and production is being cut at other workplaces as the international financial… Read More
Cuba struggling to pay off debts… again. Bond interest rates at 9%
Posted June 10, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (33 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters (bold below by me for emphasis) Cuba has rolled over 200 million euros in bond issues that were due in… Read More
Head of Cuban banking Francisco Soberon resigns
Posted June 05, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (3 comments)
AP The head of Cuba’s central bank has resigned as President Raul Castro pushes ahead with a government reorganization amid… Read More
Miami prepares for post-Embargo Cuba business opportunities and problems
Posted June 03, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (1 comments)
By Pascal Fletcher | Reuters Miami’s business will gain if the United States unilaterally lifts its trade embargo on Cuba,… Read More
Major cutbacks in electricity ordered in Cuba, GDP revised to .5 percent
Posted June 03, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (4 comments)
EFE The Cuban government will cut power supplies to companies and organizations that do not observe the “exceptional measures”… Read More
May 2009
Cimex President admits that Cuba is having trouble paying it’s bills
Posted May 22, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
(Publisher note: See my comments in bold below) By Jeff Franks | Reuters A cash crunch is causing one of Cuba’s largest… Read More
Senate Bill to allow export of US agricultural and medical sales to Cuba
Posted May 21, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (4 comments)
William Gibson | Sun Sentinel A powerful coalition of 16 senators today introduced a bill to lift the ban on travel to Cuba and… Read More
Azerbaijan to drill for oil in Cuba
Posted May 19, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (2 comments)
RIA Novosti Azerbaijan plans to participate in developing oil fields in Cuba in line with a draft cooperation agreement, Azerbaijani… Read More
Cuban economy flat to contracting in 2009 with opinion
Posted May 18, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (0 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal This article below, although well written, deserves much criticism due to the fact that Cuba does… Read More
Port of Santiago de Cuba dredged to increase cargo shipments to Cuba
Posted May 18, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (0 comments)
ACN With the removal of some 8,000 cubic meters of sediments and the extension of the access for bigger ships, the dredging of… Read More
Santiago de Cuba rum, Ron Santiago, to be sold in Spain
Posted May 18, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
ACN A Cuban rum, Ron Santiago, well-known in its own country for its unique flavor and quality, starts in June a quest to conquer… Read More
Selling more than just agricultural products to Cuba
Posted May 18, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (1 comments)
AP Jugs of daiquiri mix. Gourmet nuts. Rolls of newsprint. Not exactly humanitarian aid, but still among the items sold to Cuba… Read More
Qatari Diar announces second hotel project for Cuba - Prado y Malecon
Posted May 13, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Qatari Diar press release In addition to the recent announcement of the Gran Paraiso hotel to be built… Read More
Mobile Alabama ready re-establish centuries old Cuba commerce relationship
Posted May 08, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
By Richard Fausset | LA Times The barges bound for Cuba already glide down the Mobile River from time to time, past James K. Lyons’… Read More
Tampa Bay businesses will meet to discuss plans for post-Embargo Cuba
Posted May 06, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune Trade issues with Cuba, particularly if the U.S. trade embargo is lifted, will be the focus… Read More
States preparing for post-Embargo trade with Cuba
Posted May 03, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
By Fredrick Kunkle | Washington Post Staff Writer Virginia and Maryland trade officials, sensing winds of change in the tempestuous… Read More
April 2009
Cuba to build fourth nickel processing plant in Las Camariocas Holguin
Posted April 27, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (1 comments)
Reuters Cuba will proceed with plans to build a ferronickel plant with its ally Venezuela, even though a dramatic drop in international… Read More
Diplomats and businessmen say Cuba may be nearly bankrupt
Posted April 23, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (1 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters A cash crunch that began last year for Cuba appears to be getting worse as state-run banks insist they… Read More
Panel discussion - US re-engagement with Cuba and what it means for Canada
Posted April 21, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-Canada Trade (0 comments)
Luncheon panel discussion hosted by Canadian Council for the Americas and the Canadian International Council Sponsored by Sherritt… Read More
CubaWeb.cu CubaTravel.cu and several other popular Cuban websites down
Posted April 19, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (1 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal We have discovered that a number of popular Cuban websites are down or showing errors. The sites have… Read More
Cuba telecommunications calling US citizens?
Posted April 16, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (16 comments)
By Latin Business Chronicle staff President Barack Obama’s liberalization of restrictions on U.S. telecom services in Cuba… Read More
Cuba domain name speculators rush to invest in Cuba
Posted April 15, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (7 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Dozens of domain name speculators rushed to register hundreds of Cuba related domain names on April… Read More
Cuba business opportunities under a new US Cuba policy
Posted April 14, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
By Euan Rocha and Deepa Seetharaman | Reuters Investors in companies with Cuban assets, or the potential to expand into the country,… Read More
Cuba reports almost $12 billion trade deficit - imports way way
Posted April 11, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuba continues to run a huge trade deficit and the country’s 2008 performance was worse than previously… Read More
Cuba signs trade agreement with Panama
Posted April 04, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (1 comments)
Luis Sierra | The Panama Post Cuba buys Panamanian textiles, footwear, and home appliances, while Panama imports clinker (an intermediate… Read More
March 2009
President of Trinidad offers open invitation to Raul Castro to visit Trinidad
Posted March 30, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (1 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Cuban state run newspaper, Granma is reporting that President Raúl Castro and Prime Minister Patrick… Read More
Tampa Florida to benefit from US Cuba trade
Posted March 30, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (4 comments)
By David Adams | TampaBay.com Back in the days before the Kennedy administration slapped an economic embargo on Cuba, Tampa shipping… Read More
Cuban government moves to decentralize economy from Central Bank control
Posted March 27, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuban President Raul Castro has loosened controls on how state companies spend foreign currency in the… Read More
Republican introduces Bill to ease agricultural food sales to Cuba restrictions
Posted March 27, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (4 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Republican Congressman Jerry Moran from Kansas introduced a Bill (HR 1737) in the House of Representatives… Read More
HavanaJournal.com now in 7th year publishing Cuba news
Posted March 23, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (3 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Just over six years ago on March 3, 2003 we launched HavanaJournal.com by publishing four articles:… Read More
Gibara Holguin Cuba wind farm update
Posted March 23, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (0 comments)
By Ania Fernandez | Ahora.cu “That the Gibara I Wind Farm was still standing after the passing of the devastating Hurricane… Read More
Pro-business Cuba Trade Expo wraps in Miami
Posted March 22, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (4 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal The pro-Cuba business Cuba Trade Expo was held at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami on Friday where… Read More
Cuba to consider reducing nickel mining and production
Posted March 04, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (1 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuba may soon join a growing list of countries shutting down nickel plants in the face of slumping prices,… Read More
February 2009
US businesses registering trademarks in Cuba
Posted February 25, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (1 comments)
By Esteban Israel | Reuters The opening of a McDonald’s in Communist Cuba seems unlikely any time soon, even with U.S. President… Read More
Exploration and drilling for oil in Cuba - Is anyone making money?
Posted February 24, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (5 comments)
By Will Weissert | Associated Press It has been four years since U.S. experts said the island may sit atop nearly 10 billion barrels… Read More
Tampa Port Authority cautious on US Cuba shipping
Posted February 22, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (4 comments)
By TED JACKOVICS | Tampa Tribune Tampa Port Authority commissioners on Thursday postponed a seemingly inevitable showdown on aggressively… Read More
Update on cell phone use in Cuba
Posted February 09, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (0 comments)
Reuters Mobile telephone use will remain limited and costly in Communist-run Cuba for the foreseeable future due to the need to… Read More
Cuba to grant 1.3million acres to first time and Cuban family farms
Posted February 02, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (10 comments)
By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuba has approved 45,500 land grants in the largest land redistribution since the 1960s, the Communist… Read More
Cuba gets $354million in “aid pledges” from Russia
Posted February 02, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (4 comments)
By Michael Stott and Gleb Bryanski | Reuters) Cuban President Raul Castro hailed the “very positive” results of his… Read More
January 2009
Port of Corpus Christi ships beans to port of Santiago de Cuba
Posted January 27, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (0 comments)
Fanny S. Chirinos | TheCaller.com About 5,000 tons of pinto beans will leave the Port of Corpus Christi this evening and arrive… Read More
Carbonera Club begins marketing phase of new resort in Cuba
Posted January 23, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (10 comments)
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal Based on an email we received: Cuban Golf Resorts will be the joint venture of UK based Esencia Hotels… Read More
Cuban government prematurely terminates Pebercan oil production contract
Posted January 23, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-Canada Trade (5 comments)
PEBERCAN INC. (The “Company”), (TSX: PBC) Pebercan announces that Cuban authorities, through Cubapetroleo S.A. («Cupet»),… Read More
Cuba Stock Index, Cuba Select ranking report and Havana Journal business
Posted January 13, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-US Trade (2 comments)
Here are a few developments regarding Havana Journal Inc business for those readers interested in Havana Journal Inc operations… Read More
Export of Cuba services generate $9billion in 2008 but numbers are suspect
Posted January 08, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (3 comments)
(Original title: Cuba says exports of services tops $9 billion) By Marc Frank | Reuters Cuban exports of services grew by 6.2… Read More
The future potential of real estate in Havana and Cuba
Posted January 06, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (2 comments)
Yemisrach Kifle | NuWireInvestor.com While Cuba still remains off-limits to Americans, there is a heated debate on whether or… Read More
National Statistics Office in Cuba releases more business and economic data
Posted January 05, 2009 by publisher in Business In Cuba (1 comments)
By Marc Frank in Havana Communist Cuba is slowly lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding its people and economy as demands from… Read More
Update on Cuba Nickel industry
Posted January 05, 2009 by publisher in Cuba-World Trade (0 comments)
Reuters The Cuban nickel industry garnered $552 million net profit on 70,400 tonnes of unrefined nickel and cobalt in 2008, local… Read More
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