Havana - The Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM), an important Cuban economic enclave, is now five years old in the midst of the growing interest it arouses in foreign investors.

Located about 45 kilometers west of this capital, the ZEDM largely monopolizes the attention of businesspersons who participate until Friday in the 36th edition of Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2018).

During an investment forum that took place as part of FIHAV, foreign investors assured that they carry out promising businesses in Cuba, located in Mariel, under advantageous regulations and tax incentives, which facilitate access to the domestic market and exports.

Among the newly approved users are TGT Caribe S.A., from Spain, which will produce cheese and dairy products, and Vietnam's ViMariel, S.A., an infrastructure developer and first dealer in Mariel.

The Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance, S.A., a joint venture between Cuban and the US, conceived for the development of biotechnological products for the treatment of cancer, was also highlighted.

According to Francisco Rios, director of Resa Caribe, the decision to set up in the ZEDM responds to three basic reasons: the preparation of the workforce, especially young professionals with a desire to excel, the opportunities opened by the climate of business and beauty of this Caribbean island.

The firm, also from Spain, evaluated the geographical location of the Mariel enclave as a gateway to the Caribbean and the Latin American region, said Rios, who appreciated the potential market for Resa Caribe services related to industrial and construction maintenance.

For the US citizen Douglas Plessinger, business director of the Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance (IIA), the alliance established between the commercial subsidiaries of the Molecular Immunology Center of Cuba and the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center of the United States is positive.

The business development program of the Zone, which seeks to boost activity, was approved by the Council of Ministers of Cuba, the general director of the ZEDM Office, Ana Teresa Igarza reported in the context of FIHAV.

This program is focused, said the official, on sustaining the vision pursued by the ZEDM to be a multi-sector pole of advanced and regional reference.

From the logistic point of view, she added, this program is more likely to encourage the creation of a merchandise processing platform that will imbricate the operators with the users and concessionaires of the ZEDM, but also with the rest of the companies in the economy that demand these services.

Likewise, foreign investment projects in the generation and cogeneration of electricity using renewable sources are promoted.

ZEDM currently has 45 projects for foreign investment within the 525 opportunities present in the Cuban foreign investment opportunities portfolio, Igarza said.

According to the balance sheet of the official, 21 of these projects correspond to the industrial field, among which are the plans associated with the integrated management of solid waste and the production of containers and packaging.