Cuba has expressed its keenness to cooperate with Kerala in Medicine, Sports, Tourism, among other sectors. This was conveyed to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by Cuban Ambassador Oscar I. Martinez Cordoves at a meeting in New Delhi on Monday.
The Chief Minister and the Ambassador discussed the possibility of the State getting the benefits of the developments made by Cuba in medicine and on providing training to doctors and sportspersons of Kerala in Cuba.
The Ambassador also expressed interest in importing spices from Kerala directly if the Union Government gave the clearance. He pointed out the difficulties in the wake of the restrictions imposed by the US.
The Ambassador informed the Chief Minister that the country was going to increase the number of hotels in Cuba and was for enhancing investment in the tourism sector. Mr. Cordoves said the government was ready to help investors and NRIs who came forward to invest in tourism sector.
The Chief Minister was informed that the visa facilities would be simplified to enable those having US visa to visit Cuba as this would benefit Non-Resident Malayalis who can reach there in 40 minutes from the US.
Former Tourism Minister and CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan; Former Education Minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M.A. Baby; Chief Secretary Nalini Netto; Media Adviser to the Chief Minister John Brittas; Secretary to the Chief Minister V. S. Senthil; and Resident Commissioner of Kerala in New Delhi Vishwas Mehta; participated in the discussions.
