Havana - The 36th edition of the International Havana Fair (Fihav 2018), one of the most representative trade exchanges of Latin America opens today and through November 2, to businesspeople from over 60 countries.

The Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, president of the Organizing Committee, Rodrigo Malmierca, asserted to news media that state delegations headed by high-ranking officials will attend the event, in further proof that the blockade only isolates the United States, he said.

Malmierca also announced there will be a Forum on Foreign Investment, the third edition of this event, to which are expected to attend businesspeople of over 20 countries, which through the Forum will make business contacts for specific projects in which they have expressed interest.

The Minister added there will be a launching of the new investment portfolio of business opportunities and an exclusive presentation of the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM), about to reach its fifth anniversary.

The official stressed that the expo will be dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the ville of St. Christopher of Havana, consolidated as one of the region's most important capitals.

He also referred to the realization as part of Fihav 2018, and for the first time in Havana, of the Business Forum Russia-Latin America and Caribbean, to be held this Monday.

This forum coincides with the 16th meeting of the Intergovernment Commission Russia-Cuba for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, headed by the Vice-Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Yuri Borisov and the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas. The President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce,

Orlando Hernández, informed that the five thousand square meters of the central pavilion of Expocuba, where National enterprises exhibit their products will be totally occupied.

For his part, the president of Business Group Palco,

Abraham Maciques, detailed that the present Fihav edition has all 25 pavilions occupied with 2500 foreign exhibitors. Spain will again be the most represented country with five pavilions in the Expo.

Fihav has been held without interruption since 1983. As usual, it has a wide participation of Cuban and foreign visitors, chambers of commerce and organizations promoters of trade and investment of different parts of the world.