Cuba Port Representatives Visiting Six Ports In The United States

A delegation of representatives from port facilities in the Republic of Cuba is visiting the United States from 21 January 2017 to 3 February 2017.

The Trump Administration did not seek to cancel or delay the visit.

The delegation includes: Eradis Gonzalez de la Peña, CEO of Almacenes Universales S.A.; Ernesto Viñas Betancourt, advisor of the Vice Minister of Transportation of Cuba; Ana Teresa Igarza Martinez, general director of Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM); Tania Vazquez Garcia, official within the Trade Policy Division with North America, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment; Rene Rolando Fernandez de Lara Cabazas, director of Inland Waterway and Sea Transport, Cuban Ministry of Transport; Joe Lago, First Secretary, Embassy of Cuba; and Jose Leonardo Sosa Barrios, Deputy Director, Mariel Container Terminal, Port Mariel.

The schedule includes visits to six (6) port facilities (including Houston, Texas, and a visit to Austin, Texas; Port of New Orleans, Louisiana; Port of Norfolk, Virginia) and to Washington DC; and signing of memorandums of understanding (MOU) between the National Port Administration of Cuba and ports in Florida (Palm Beach, Port Everglades; Tampa) and in Alabama.

The delegation from the Republic of Cuba will attend a conference on 2/3 February 2017 in Tampa, Florida, hosted by the Alexandria, Virginia-based American Association of Port Authorities.