First Cuba-EU Business Forum Explores Economic Transformations and Investment Opportunities in Cuba

First Cuba-EU Business Forum Explores Economic Transformations and Investment Opportunities in Cuba

Brussels (October 26, 2026) - The First Cuba-EU Business Forum was held on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at the Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BECI). The event was organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba to the Kingdom of Belgium and the Mission of Cuba to the European Union, in collaboration with the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe (CCCE).

Held under the theme "Economic Transformations in Cuba and Investment Opportunities", the event featured a high-level panel comprising Mr. Antonio Carricarte Corona, President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Pedro Campos Llopis, Lead Coordinator for Global Gateway in Latin America and the Caribbean at the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA); Mrs. Ana Teresa Igarza Martínez, Director General of the Mariel Special Development Zone; and Mr. Jean-Serge R. Dias de Sousa, former Economic and Commercial Adviser at the Belgian Embassy in Havana and representative of Hub.brussels.

The event was held in a hybrid format, bringing together representatives of Belgian and European institutions, business leaders, consulting firms and media outlets in person, alongside participants joining online from other European countries. Simultaneous Spanish-English interpretation facilitated dialogue among participants.

In his opening remarks, Cuba's Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios, emphasised the Cuban Government's determination to continue advancing the updating of its economic model, despite the challenges facing the national economy as a result of the unilateral and illegal coercive measures imposed under the United States' economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba.

He also highlighted the importance of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement, whose tenth anniversary is being commemorated this year, as a framework for strengthening bilateral relations between Cuba and the European Union. The Ambassador further reaffirmed the Cuban Government's commitment to maintaining the European Union and its Member States among Cuba's principal trade and investment partners.

The panellists discussed the main changes introduced through the economic transformations approved by the Cuban Government last June, as well as the opportunities their implementation creates for trade and foreign investment, with particular emphasis on economic relations with the European Union.

The President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce highlighted the scope of these transformations and the legal guarantees underpinning them, including the adoption of more than one hundred legal provisions.

In this regard, Mrs. Igarza Martínez addressed financial guarantees, explaining that, given the circumstances under which Cuba is compelled to operate, a tailored financial structure is designed for each business venture to ensure its sustainability. She noted that some of the transformations currently being implemented are consistent with incentives already offered to businesses established in the Mariel Special Development Zone.

Mr. Pedro Campos Llopis highlighted Cuba's potential in sectors such as biotechnology, healthcare, renewable energy, digitalisation and raw materials, all of which are aligned with the priorities established by the European Union under its Global Gateway Investment Agenda.

For his part, Mr. Jean-Serge R. Dias de Sousa drew attention to the potential of Cuba's private sector, which encompasses not only micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), but also the co-operative sector, which has extensive experience.

The event also included a segment devoted to sharing practical experiences in implementing these transformations. Presentations were delivered by ProCuba on the Booster Programme, financed by the European Union to support the internationalisation of Cuban micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and by Finca Marta, a Cuban MSME that has evolved since its establishment by taking advantage of the opportunities offered to domestic private capital through the updating of Cuba's economic model.

In his closing remarks, Jo Spalburg, Secretary General, CCCE, highlighted the resilience of the Cuban economy and its capacity to continue creating opportunities that facilitate trade and investment, despite the challenges it faces.

Participants also acknowledged that the economic transformations approved by the Cuban Government lay the foundations for a more dynamic and open economy, further strengthening Cuba's comparative advantages in trade and investment.

Participants were invited to continue exploring the issues discussed during the 42nd International Fair of Havana (FIHAV), which will be held in hybrid format from 24 to 26 November 2026. For further information and registration, visit: https://www.cuba.feriahabana.cu/en/