As part of Hanoi's 2024 People-to-People Diplomacy Program, a delegation led by Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Hanoi Nguyen Lan Huong, met with representatives of ViMariel, a Vietnamese joint-stock company investing in Cuba.

Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Hanoi Nguyen Lan Huong and ViMariel Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Nguyen Ngoc Anh.

At the meeting, ViMariel Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors Nguyen Ngoc Anh told the delegation that ViMariel is the first and only foreign-owned company licensed to operate in Cuba’s Mariel Special Development Zone. They have been granted land-use rights for a 156-hectare site, with a total investment of US$41.3 million, to develop, manage, and operate the infrastructure of the ViMariel Industrial Park.

To date, they have completed the infrastructure development of the northern section of the park, covering 86 hectares, in late 2022. Construction of the southern section (70 hectares) will finish in 2024. With 60 hectares of leasable land, five investors are already operating in the park, bringing a total investment of over US$70 million. Among these investors are two Vietnamese companies focused on agricultural production, such as fertilizer, animal feed, rice, and corn, to support Cuba’s food security.

Following General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Cuba in September 2024, ViMariel is assisting AGRI VMA, a Vietnamese animal feed producer in Cuba, with a rice cultivation project under an agreement between the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Anh said.

He noted that ViMariel is actively promoting investment in the industrial park, primarily targeting secondary investors from Asia, especially from Vietnam and China. Key sectors of interest include agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, and the processing of consumer goods.

During the meeting, Chairwoman Huong provided an update on Hanoi’s socio-economic situation and commended ViMariel's contributions to Cuba’s economic growth and its role in strengthening Vietnam-Cuba economic relations in keeping with the strong political ties between the two nations, creating stable employment opportunities for Cuban citizens.

She expressed her hope that ViMariel would continue fostering national pride, unity, and creativity to overcome challenges, expand its investments, and support Cuba’s development, serving as an important bridge in Vietnam-Cuba relations.