On Tuesday, we touched down at Jose Marti Airport after our one hour and ten minute flight from Miami. Officials from Alimport, the agency responsible for making food purchases for the Cuban people, greeted us and our dialogue began.
We boarded our bus and headed to the Hotel Nacional de Cuba. The picturesque hotel captures the character of the 1930s era.
Our reception with Alimport and other government officials was in the L-shaped glass walled Salon de la Historia overlooking the Caribbean Sea with the Florida Keys only 90 miles to the north. It was a step back in time with murals of worldwide celebrities, including those from the United States. Here we offered a taste of Texas hospitality to the Cuban trade representatives. We presented them samples of Texas candies and gourmet snacks, as well as a memento from the Texas Farm Bureau and a GO TEXAN gift bag from the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Our initial briefing was formal and included information on trade volumes, needs and a lecture about the U.S. trade embargo, highlighting limitations presented by the current policy allowing for agricultural and medical exports. Our delegation remained focused on the trade aspect and expressed our desire to center our discussions on how our agricultural and agribusiness community can meet the needs of their people.
It was a good opportunity to lay the groundwork for further discussions about commercial engagement, visit with our potential trade partners and catch up with some of the Cuban officials who in the past visited Texas or hosted trade discussions with Texas producers.
Tomorrow we begin discussions with Alimport buyers. We are very excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.
More on this tomorrow...
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