Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Board Member Faik Yavuz, who signed the agreement on behalf of TOBB at the signing ceremony attended by Cuba Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Ileana Nuñez Mordoche, said: “We will establish a sustainable mechanism to bring together businessmen in our countries and remove obstacles to bilateral trade. Through this Cooperation Agreement, we will work to inform our entrepreneurs, businessmen, and to expose the potential of our countries. I hope that our cooperation will be a milestone for the bridge between the Turkish business community and Cuban businessmen.”

At the meeting, Faik Yavuz informed attendees about the activities and structure of TOBB, “We have 1.5 million members. Throughout Turkey, 365 chambers and exchanges are members. Along with TOBB University of Economics and Technology, we have established the only think tank in Turkey, TEPAV. We are involved in a wide international network.”

- Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Mordoche

Cuban Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Ileana Nuñez Mordoche drew attention to the lack of trade volume between the two countries. Mordoch stated that Cuba buy products from Turkey and other countries, but none directly from Turkey. Pointing out that 80% of the products they buy come out through Italian and French companies, the guest Deputy Minister said, “Our goal is to provide direct contact between Cuban and Turkish businessmen. At the same time, we want Turkish businessmen to invest directly in Cuba. We also want to see Turkish companies in Mariel Special Development Zone. There are nearly 300 foreign investors in this region. But none of them are Turkish firms. In the near future we want Turkish companies to work with us in Cuba. We believe that the agreement we signed will open the way for trade and provide a new path forward.”