Havana - Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has inaugurated Monday the 36th edition of the Havana International Fair (Fihav 2018), a platform for trade promotion and foreign direct investment.

On the event's agenda, which will run until November 2, the Russia and Latin America and the Caribbean business forum will stand out, where the sides will strengthen ties.

The forum will discuss prospects for trade, economic and investment cooperation between Russia and the countries of this region.

Another expected event is the 3rd Investment Forum, which will foster the exchange of experiences; and the presentation of the Mariel Special Development Zone, important economic enclave located west of Cuba.

The presentation of the portfolio of opportunities, the exporters' map and the exportable offer, as well as the official call for the Caribbean Fair 2019, are also included in the event attended by entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries.

Besides, there is an event for the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the village of San Cristobal in Havana and the national days of countries such as Spain, China, Russia, Venezuela and Bolivia.

Fihav has been held annually since 1983 and is one of the most representative commercial showcase in Latin America.

Every year, exhibitors, businessmen and specialists from all sectors of the Cuban economy and a broad and diverse representation from the five continents meet at this event.

Despite the economic, financial and commercial blockade of the United States against Cuba, events like Fihav confirm the international interest in establishing business with the Cuba, whose development model is going through a deep updating process, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment recently assessed.

Signing of agreements and fruitful exchanges marked the 35th edition of Fihav, held from October 30 to November 3, 2017.

Some of the agreements include those signed for the modernization and expansion of the rolling mill in the eastern province of Las Tunas and a second Cuban charcoal sale to the United States.

He also highlighted the promotion of more trade and investment between the Cuba and Spain and the establishment of new Dutch businesses in this Caribbean nation.

Participants agreed that Fihav 2017 advances, as well as the high representation of international business, demonstrated once again the failure of the blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba.