Sri Lanka and Cuba agreed to promote bilateral trade links through visits of Sri Lanka businessmen, participation in trade fairs and strengthening ties with respective Chambers of Commerce during the inaugural session of the Sri Lanka-Cuba Joint Commission held in Havana recently.

As both countries have similar climatic conditions and flora, opportunity exists for viable and mutually beneficial exchanges of agricultural know-how and practices. Some crops that were identified for such exchanges were Mango, Papaya, Guava, Pineapple and Coconut.

In the health sector, Cuba offered to share medical expertise and advice in the control of tropical diseases such as dengue and leptospyrosis. The talks also focused on the highly developed biotechnology industry in Cuba and how Cuban biotechnological products including vaccines can be marketed in Sri Lanka.

During the discussions, Cuban authorities offered to provide an English version of a successful Cuban literacy program called ‘Yes, I Can’ as well as related audio-visual materials.

Further, the Cuban side also offered to provide Sri Lanka legal assistance for dealings with foreign oil companies.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hussein A. Bhaila led the Sri Lanka delegation for the inaugural session.

First Deputy Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation Ramón Ripoll Díaz, headed the Delegation of the Republic of Cuba at this meeting.

Year 2009 marks the completion of 50 years of formal relations between Sri Lanka and Cuba which marked with the recognition of the Cuban Revolution in 1959.