Argentina, Cuba agree on agricultural cooperation deal

By Bala Chambers

LONDON (AA) - Cuban and Argentina agreed on a mutual agricultural cooperation deal with the backing of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) and other Argentine businesses.

The deal centers on Argentina providing specific technical expertise to produce grain to aid livestock farming in Cuba.

Argentine authorities described the deal in a statement Tuesday as strengthening "bilateral relations and economic ties" between both nations as "Cuba will improve the production of grains for the provision of food, and thus be able to deepen its food sovereignty and import substitution plan."

It said that Argentine "businessmen, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Foreign Ministry and Organizations such as INTA will be able to develop their business and development plans" in Cuba.

Cuban Deputy Cabinet Chief Jorge Neme said his country’s venture is the continuation of a visit that an Argentine delegation made to Cuba in May.

"Argentina will export knowledge and experiences in Cuba's agri-food value chain, transferring technology and exporting agricultural machinery and services, in this way we are going to contribute to the food security of the Cuban people while promoting the exports of Argentine companies,” he said.

The agreement was signed by several Cuban officials who visited Buenos Aires.

Last week the Cuban delegation attended the AgroActiva 2022 fair in Armstrong, Santa Fe and visited INTA facilities before holding meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister Pablo Tettamanti and other officials, before a meeting with Argentine businessmen who wanted to export their businesses to Cuba.