Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung visits Mariel Special Economic Zone, Cuba

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the morning of December 3 (local time), within the framework of a visit and working trip to Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung and his delegation visited the Mariel Special Economic Zone, Cuba.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung talks with the Management Board of the Mariel Special Economic Zone, Cuba - Photo: VGP/Gia Huy

The delegation included Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang; Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang; Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Quang Long; representatives of the Government Office ...

Established in November 2013, the Mariel Special Economic Zone is a long-term vision project and is part of the process of updating the Cuban economic model. This is the first and only special economic zone on the island nation with many preferential policies such as support on taxes, administrative procedures, land, energy, etc., and synchronous and modern infrastructure investment. The Mariel Special Economic Zone has over 60 projects, including 52 foreign investment projects (Vietnam has 9 investment projects).

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said that the Mariel Special Economic Zone is a symbol of Cuba's will to be self-reliant, spirit of innovation and new development vision - Photo: VGP/Gia Huy

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung said that the Mariel Special Economic Zone is a symbol of Cuba's will to be self-reliant, innovative and with a new development vision. Cuba's construction and development of the Mariel Special Economic Zone is a strategic step in the current difficult context, demonstrating breakthrough thinking and foresight. This is an important key for Cuba to open up to attract foreign investment, receive new technology, create growth momentum and effectively integrate into the international economy.

The Deputy Prime Minister highly appreciated the preferential policies that Cuba is applying, as well as the efforts of the Cuban Government and the Special Zone Management Board in partially resolving the shortage of electricity, gasoline, raw materials and input fuels for businesses in the Special Zone.

The Deputy Prime Minister congratulated and appreciated the Cuban Government for the positive results achieved in the implementation of projects in the Mariel Special Zone, notably the ViMariel Project with the cooperation of Vietnam's Viglacera Group and Cuban partners. At the same time, he appreciated the development of infrastructure for the ViMariel Project by Viglacera Group and Thai Binh Company of Vietnam, and the investment in solar power plants, detergents, and diapers, which are of great significance, creating conditions to attract foreign investment in the Mariel Special Zone in particular and Cuba in general.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung visits the ViMariel Industrial Park Infrastructure Development project invested by Viglacera - Photo: VGP/Gia Huy

With the initial success of the ViMariel project and Thai Binh Company, the Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the Cuban Government and the Mariel Special Economic Zone will continue to pay attention and create favorable conditions to support Vietnamese companies to access and successfully implement projects, ensuring progress and promoting economic efficiency.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung wished the Mariel Special Zone continued success and become a favorable destination for exemplary investment projects between Vietnam and Cuba.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung visits the ViMariel Industrial Park Infrastructure Development project invested by Viglacera - Photo: VGP/Gia Huy

* On the same morning, the Deputy Prime Minister and the delegation visited projects of Vietnamese enterprises in the Mariel Special Economic Zone.

At the ViMariel Industrial Park Infrastructure Development Project invested by Viglacera Corporation, the Deputy Prime Minister expressed his joy at witnessing the development of this Project.

The Deputy Prime Minister commended and highly appreciated the collective of officers and employees of ViMariel Company for their efforts, determination, and overcoming all difficulties to complete the implementation of the infrastructure construction investment project; initially attracting a number of investors from Vietnam and internationally to invest in ViMariel Industrial Park and is negotiating with many potential investors.

The success of ViMariel has contributed to realizing high-level cooperation agreements between the two countries; demonstrating Vietnam's determination to cooperate effectively and sustainably with Cuba; helping Cuba gradually develop its manufacturing industries, creating more jobs for Cuban people, and promoting Cuba's socio-economic development.

The Deputy Prime Minister believes that with the efforts of Viglacera Corporation and the goodwill cooperation from the Cuban Government, ViMariel Industrial Park will become increasingly modern, with synchronous infrastructure, attracting more foreign investors and Vietnamese enterprises to invest.

The Vietnamese Government will always accompany and support Vietnamese enterprises in their operations in Cuba; and will coordinate with the Cuban side to address difficulties and problems of enterprises.

To support businesses, the Deputy Prime Minister requested the Mariel Special Zone Management Board and relevant Cuban agencies to continue to create favorable conditions and support ViMariel Company to effectively exploit the project, increase the rate of customers renting infrastructure, and contribute to and promote comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung visits Thai Binh Company located in Mariel Special Economic Zone - Photo: VGP/Gia Huy

* Visiting Thai Binh Company located in the Special Economic Zone, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung highly appreciated the initial successes that the Company has achieved in investment and business cooperation in Cuba.

Thai Binh Company's efforts to access the Cuban market over the past 20 years with many important successes have contributed to promoting trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

The solar power project is of great significance, not only meeting the electricity demand in the context of Cuba's severe electricity shortage, but also helping Cuba diversify its electricity supply with renewable energy, protecting the environment and helping to develop the economy and society in a sustainable manner.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung visits Thai Binh Company located in Mariel Special Economic Zone - Photo: VGP/Gia Huy

According to Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung, during this working trip, at meetings and contacts with senior Cuban leaders, Vietnam asked Cuba to pay more attention and create favorable conditions for projects invested by Vietnamese enterprises in Cuba to be provided with enough electricity, raw materials and fuel so that the enterprises can operate stably, helping Cuba to be self-sufficient in some essential goods, reduce imports, and create more jobs for the Cuban people.

The Deputy Prime Minister hopes that the Company will continue to promote its experience and achievements, constantly innovate, overcome difficulties, maintain and expand investment cooperation in Cuba.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Vietnamese Government will always accompany and support Thai Binh Company in its investment and business activities in Cuba; and will coordinate with Cuba to pay attention to resolving difficulties and problems of enterprises.

Gia Huy

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/pho-thu-tuong-ho-quoc-dung-tham-dac-khu-kinh-te-mariel-cuba-102251204065909208.htm