News and press releases

The Cuba Energías Renovables Trade Fair will be a professional platform that will bring together all the players involved in each stage of the value chain of the energy sector on the island. The Pabexpo Exhibition Centre in the Cuban capital will host the event, which will also have an exhibition area with the participation of 38 companies, 16 of which come from countries such as Belgium, China, Spain, the Virgin Islands, Italy, the United Kingdom and Saint Kitts and Nevis, who will present their products to the most important purchasers of the country and will be able to exchange knowledge with industry experts with the aim of opening up new business avenues. In this way, manufacturers of components (wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal applications, etc.) and providers of design and development services and the manufacturing of renewable energy solutions will display their latest products and innovations.

Among the Cuban companies participating in the fair, are the Unión Nacional Eléctrica and the Electronic Business Group, GELECT, among other institutions from the island. In parallel, the Spanish Wind Energy Association and the University of Turku will organise a workshop on wind energy techniques in Cuba and the Electronic Business Group will arrange a scientific conference on alternative energies on the island.

Similarly, an investment forum will be held in which projects will be presented, and business circles will be organised through the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and Procuba. Bilateral meetings will be arranged involving import companies and purchasers and the most important representatives in the Cuban energy sector. Among others, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), the Sugar Group (AZCUBA), the Electronic Business Group (GELECT), the Iron and Steel Mechanical Industry Business Group (GESIME), the SERVITUR Business Group, the Food Industry Business Group (GEIA) and the Ministry of Agriculture.

In the framework of the Cuba Energías Renovables Fair, the Sustainable Energy Forum will be held, organised jointly by the MINEM and the European Union to encourage the development and promotion of alternative energies on the island. Gaining support for energy transition is one of the priorities in the European Union’s cooperation with Cuba. A new programme providing 18 million euros to support the renewable energy and energy efficiency sector has been approved.

During the event, which will take place on the 30th and 31st of January, subjects such as the investment opportunities in Cuba, the challenges and trends of the sector, the energy situation and its development and transition to mobility, among other topics of interest, will be addressed. With regard to investment support, the European Union has extensive experience to share. The ElectriFI initiative, mixed funding models, and the newly launched External Investment Plan from the European Union (focusing on Africa and neighbouring countries of the EU) are all examples of the European Union’s global commitment to reducing the risks related to business investments in order to increase access to energy, particularly in remote areas.

As part of the programme, there will also be sessions focused on the latest technical advances of solar and geothermal energy as well as biomass and wind power generated energy. In addition, there will be sessions on investment financing in this field and the presentation of the European and international experience with the transition towards sustainable energy. It will be a high level forum with participation from the Cuban Minister of Energy, Alfredo López Valdés, the Director General of the European Commission for International Cooperation and Development, Stefano Manservisi, and representatives of the Ministries of Energy from Italy and Uruguay, Francisco La Camera and Nicolás Castroman, respectively. In addition, around 60 internationally renowned experts in attendance at the conference will participate.

Along with the Cuba Renewable Energy Fair, Securtec will celebrate its first edition of the professional exhibition on urban safety and protection in the Caribbean nation. In this platform, the different players in the value chain of the industry will gather together and establish commercial and strategic links for their development on the island.

34 companies, 20 of them foreign, from countries such as China, Spain, the United States, Mexico, Panama and Colombia, will participate in the event. They will display their products and services related to employment security, and data management solutions for the prevention of damage against fire, floods and inclement weather. During the meeting, renowned professionals and companies in the sector will give more than 20 presentations and lectures on innovative solutions for the sector, as well as training workshops in the Talks Arena.

In addition to Energías Renovables and Securtec, this year Fira de Barcelona will co-organise the second edition of Alimentos Cuba, a fair dedicated to food, beverages and food technology, and will contribute to the internationalisation of Fecons, the International Building Exhibition in Cuba. All of this is in addition to the Pacgraf Cuba Exhibition (printing, packaging and graphic arts) and HostelCuba (hotels, restaurants and tourist services) held in 2016 and 2017, the result of the collaboration agreement between Fira de Barcelona and the local partner Pabexpo, belonging to the Palco Business Group, a leading operator of fairs and congresses in this Caribbean country. In this regard, Fira de Barcelona has become the first foreign trade fair institution present in Cuba, thereby strengthening its international strategy.

According to Fira de Barcelona’s International Business Director, Ricard Zapatero, “Cuba is generating new business opportunities in the local and international environment. Due to its strategic location, Cuba has become a key entry point for the Latin American and Caribbean market and is something we must take advantage of”.

Throughout 2018, the institution will take new steps in its external activity, with the co-organisation of the editions of the Smart City Expo, particularly in Latin American cities and in Sector Fairs in Doha, as well as other projects currently under study.