Abraham Maciques, president of the Organizing Committee of the event, said that this ample foreign presence shows their confidence in Cuba’s capacity to go ahead amidst the current world financial crisis.

He noted that the fair has consolidated its role as a means to increase relations with other countries and to undermine the US economic blockade of the Caribbean nation.

The event will be attended by 652 foreign companies, which means that more than 1,500 foreign exhibitors will be present as each company is represented, at least, by two or three businesspeople, Maciques explained.

As in previous occasions, Spain will be the foreign country with more participants although countries such as Canada, China, Russia, Venezuela, Italy, Mexico and Brazil will also be represented by several companies.

Meanwhile, Pedro Alvarez, President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, announced that the participation of companies in the Cuban pavilion also increases this time with the largest representation in the food and health sectors. He added that emphasis will be put on the promotion of new products and services, their export and the substitution of imports.