WTC mission to visit Cuba
South
Florida Business Journal
- 8:32 AM EST Wednesday
World Trade Center Palm Beach said it is
organizing a humanitarian, educational and
information exchange mission to Cuba in
June. Business interests are present, but
organizers indicated they will remain dormant
under the current Cuban government.
The group said its trip, co-sponsored by
the Palm Beach County Film and Television
Institute, is designed to identify and assist
in the humanitarian needs of the Cuban people.
"We hope to exchange information about
several key resources found in Palm Beach
County: agriculture, ranching and food processing;
water purification, irrigation and related
technologies; transportation; and medicine
and life sciences," said Lou Haddad,
World Trade Center Palm Beach president.
Haddad said the WTC Palm Beach is working
with its counterpart in Cuba, the World
Trade Center in Havana, to organize the
30-person trip.
As far as business, Haddad pointed out
there was a pre-Castro relationship between
the Port of Palm Beach and Cuba.
"We believe that Palm Beach County
can reestablish former ties and assist the
island to develop its economy while at the
same time familiarize the right people in
that country about the positive aspects
of trade and industry in our area,"
he explained.
Lori A. Baer, executive director of the
Port of Palm Beach, said people in maritime
commerce look forward to the day when normalized
trade relations with Cuba can resume.
"In particular, we at Port of Palm
Beach are hopeful that we may take up anew
a vital role in serving this nation of more
than 11 million people," she added.
Other industries are interested in someday
having relations with Cuba, as well.
Dr. Brent Schillinger, a board member of
World Trade Center Palm Beach and a past
president of the Palm Beach County Medical
Society, said he hopes to establish a serious
dialogue with his counterparts in Cuba.
"Cuba has a highly sophisticated and
successful medical delivery system, but
a serious lack of resources," he explained.
"The United States has very much the
opposite situation. The upcoming mission
presents a unique opportunity to explore
how the doctors from the two countries can
work together to improve health care on
both sides of the Florida straits."
Several local politicians may also join
the delegation, Haddad said. He also said
the PB Film Institute is planning to make
a documentary about the trip.
As far as permits, Haddad said the appropriate
U.S. government agencies have been notified
about WTC Palm Beach's intentions. He said
trip logistics are through an authorized
U.S.-Cuba travel agency in Miami.
He also said the delegation does not plan
to meet with any Cuban government agencies
or officials, "just everyday people
like us, exchanging information and getting
to know each other's cultures better."
|