France, a quiet but significant presence in Cuba
France, a quiet but significant presence in Cuba
Sunday, 31 January 2016 00:52
Posted by Fawad Maqsood
HAVANA: France, one of Cuba's leading economic partners, has forged close ties with the island, even if its commercial presence lags far behind that of Venezuela or China, countries close to the Cuban regime.
In 2013, French-Cuban trade totaled 278 million euros ($301 million in today's dollars), but it fell to 180 million euros in 2014 and probably a similar level in 2015, according to official French data.
The lower numbers are largely due to a drop in Cuban grain imports and the temporary suspension of a credit line guaranteed by Coface, France's export credit agency. That credit line was ultimately renewed during last May's visit to Cuba by French President Francois Hollande.
Rum accounts for about half of Cuban exports to France, which in turn mainly provides Cuba with wheat, agrochemical products and transportation equipment.
Some 60 French companies are active on the island, notably through various types of partnerships with Cuban state entities.
The companies are active in the key sectors of the local economy -- including agribusiness, tourism, the marine industry, construction, energy, industrial equipment and transport.
Among them are firms as prominent as Air France, Total, Bouygues and Pernod Ricard, the top French investor in Havana Club, a joint venture rum producer.
More:
http://www.brecorder.com/world/europe/276168.html
= new reply since forum marked as read
Ignore the intransigent fools who say that Cubans don't have access to media of a wide range.
For decades ordinary citizens could pick up radio programs from Miami, and TV, too, in some cases, with the right antennas.
Of course, people also overlook the fact Cuba has always had close contact with all the Latin American and Caribbean cultures who have never been bullying them!
The only ones who have been kept in the dark about information have been ours truly, ourselves!
I discovered just what you mention when I went there as a youngster.
Cubans are not in some kind of information bubble brought to them exclusively by The State.
Btw, how many flats did your group get? 
