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Cuban trade delegation visits Port of New Orleans

(Photo: Port of New Orleans)
The Cuban trade ambassadors are joined by Port of New Orleans officials and Louisiana trade representatives for a tour of the harbor
A Cuban delegation of trade ambassadors that is scheduled to meet with cruise lines at Port Everglades on Thursday made its first US stop at the Port of New Orleans.

Wednesday's visit followed a Louisiana delegation's trip to Cuba in October.

The Cubans presented an overview of their economy, trade activity, the Mariel Container Terminal and opportunities within the Mariel Special Economic Development Zone. A Louisiana business round table followed with representatives from manufacturers, shippers and logistics providers and a harbor tour of the Port of New Orleans.

The delegation’s agenda concluded with a meeting with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and dinner with Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson and officials from the five deep-water ports located on the Lower Mississippi River.

'It is an honor to host this delegation,' said Brandy Christian, president and ceo, Port of New Orleans. 'This was a great opportunity to show the delegation the infrastructure and opportunities we touted during our trip. Also, we gained valuable insight into maritime and transportation plans in Cuba and determined actionable items to the memorandum of understanding signed with the Cuban government last fall.'

The Cuban delegation includes René Rolando Fernández Lara Cabezas, director of inland waterway and sea transport, Ministry of Transport; Ana Teresa Igarza Martinez, general director, Office of the Mariel Special Development Zone; Eradis González de la Peña, president of Almacenes Universales SA (the operator of the Port of Mariel Container Terminal); and José Leonardo Sosa Barrios, assistant director, Mariel Container Terminal.

Further delegation members are Tania Vazquez Garcia, senior official, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment; Joel Lago Oliva, Economic and Trade Office, Embassy of Cuba in Washington, DC; and Ernesto Viñas Betancourt, adviser of the deputy minister of transportation.