Cuban trade with Argentina rises to US$200 million

Argentina and Cuba have signed a trade agreement with a 
commitment to increase bilateral trade to US$200 million per 
year, in the interests of Latin American integration and the 
well-being of the two countries, reports Prensa Latina from 
Buenos Aires.

Via its Ministry of Health and the Environment and other 
agencies, Argentina has assumed moves to purchase bio-
pharmaceuticals and medical technology developed in Cuba. For its 
part, Cuba's ALIMPORT is negotiating the import of foodstuffs 
under the terms of the contract, which came into force on August 
27 and expires in 2007, when it can be automatically extended on 
an annual basis.

The agreement was signed at the Argentine Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs by the country's Health Minister, Ginis Gonzalez, and for 
the Cuban side by Pedro Alvarez, president of ALIMPORT. 
Subsequently Rafael Bielsa, Foreign Minister of that South 
American country, and Alejandro Gonzalez, the Cuban ambassador in 
Buenos Aires, added their signatures to the document.

Speaking to Prensa Latina, Bielsa affirmed that political 
and trade relations with Cuba have reached their finest point 
with future possibilities of consolidation. In reference to the 
agreement he noted that it considerably raises the goals of 
reciprocal trade and expands the range of merchandise currently 
being exchanged.

He emphasised that his signature represents a genuine vocation on 
the part of both nations to intensify economic links and 
demonstrates that ties at the political level have also advanced 
in recent months. He cited the example of the re-designation of 
an Argentine ambassador in Havana, an event that he personally 
attended in October 2003 when he travelled to the island.

Asked about the announced visit to Cuba by Argentine President 
Nistor Kirchner, the Foreign Minister responded that it is to be 
made concrete in principle in January 2005. Bielsa informed that 
at this moment the diplomatic missions of the two states are 
working to formalise the president's visit, "with a tentative 
date of January next year".