Friday, July 10, 2009

Brazil financing Mariel port development

For years, there has been talk of a plan to move the more industrial activities in Havana Bay to the nearby port of Mariel. About two years ago there was talk that Dubai Ports World was going to do a huge renovation/expansion of Mariel, but apparently that hasn’t panned out.

Now, Reuters is reporting that the government of Brazil has approved the first $110 million in financing for the project, to be “led by a Brazilian company.” A Brazilian minister just concluded a visit to Cuba, and La Jornada reports that there was also agreement to form a pharmaceutical joint venture to produce medicines under Cuban patents.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Democracies keep funding the regime and demand nothing in return.

The Hypervigilant Observer said...

Cubans may be the ultimate opportunists. They seem to live by the saying..."Love the one you're with."

When "The Ego" Hugo Chavez starts to run out of money... they tap the up-and-comer... Brasil...for development money.


Lex Wadelski
Austin, Texas

leftside said...

Democracies keep funding the regime and demand nothing in return.

Oh, Brazil is getting lots in return. This is not charity. With ports in the US filling up and expansion plans almost impossible to approve, a state of the art port in Mariel makes a lot of sense for the future. The idea is that large supertankers could unload to smaller ships in Cuba, and then make their way to Houston, New Orleans, Miami, or wherever. Also, with the oil in that area, there are enormous opportunities...

Of course, all this banks on the fact that Helms-Burton is going down soon. Maybe the Brazilians know something we don't...

leftside said...

Dubai was still interested as recently as April this year, when they released press releases stating their intention to have the thing built by 2012. Things seemed pretty well along, so this is a bit of a shock. I would no be surprised if Petrobras' recent related decision to get serious about beginning drilling in the Gulf was not related. Havana is anxious to get the oil pumping - and this looks like a win-win for everyone.

Anonymous said...

On Planet Leftside, Cuba is a highly desired foreign investment site...

Anonymous said...

Oh, Brazil is getting lots in return. This is not charity. With ports in the US filling up and expansion plans almost impossible to approve, a state of the art port in Mariel makes a lot of sense for the future. The idea is that large supertankers could unload to smaller ships in Cuba, and then make their way to Houston, New Orleans, Miami, or wherever. Also, with the oil in that area, there are enormous opportunities"

After reading this commentary from Leftoid all I can say is: What are they putting in the water in L.A.? LSD?

leftside said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
leftside said...

If someone has a problem with what something I say, it helps to tell me specifcally what you disagree with. I never said Cuba was a desirable foreign investment place in general... but getting in on the gound of a new state of the art port 1/2 day from many aging US ports is clearly good business.

Anonymous said...

Leftside, if you do not believe that Cuba is a highly desirable foreign investment destination "in general" then you must have reasons for that. One must assume there are some issues about sanctity of contracts and so forth. So why are the Brazilians so clever to invest in Cuban ports?

Anonymous said...

"state of the art" and Castro's Cuba should never be placed in the same sentence.

Anonymous said...

"If someone has a problem with what something I say, it helps to tell me specifcally what you disagree with..."

EXACTLY the same same policy pursued by your favorite news source, Granma. Eh, Lefty?

Meanwhile (getting back to economic Planet Earth, or at least Planet Cuba), here is what's really happening:

Retenes Policiacos Provocan Malestar en Cuba

http://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/ElFinanciero/Portal/cfpages/contentmgr.cfm?docId=201565&docTipo=1&orderby=docid&sortby=ASC

La Habana , 10 de julio .- Los registros que practica la Policía Cubana en los Puntos de Control habilitados en la carretera que enlaza a la Habana con la occidental provincia de Pinar del Rió , así como también los que funcionan en el oriente de la isla , están provocando un descontento popular que pica y se extiende , según testimonios obtenidos por este periodista...

Anonymous said...

it gets so tiring to hear you cuba bashers. but wait, that's all you losers do -- speak and do nothing else.
if brazil wants to invest in cuba what's your problem, except you never want anything positive out of cuba.
china owns the USA try solving that problem.
how much money does CANF pay you losers

Anonymous said...

leftside makes a point in regards to location of the new port of Mariel if developed. those oppose bring nothing in response except for meaningless dumb comebacks that have nothing to do with anything. No wonder you losers have been just sitting and shouting from the sidelines. the future must be scaring the crap out of you gusanos.

Anonymous said...

hey Castro bootlickers, we may be without a country but we answer to no tyrant.

Anonymous said...

and what about you losers, what do you do for kicks? you get wood watching Cubans get slapped around because they dare to disagree with papa Fidel? or do you just not give a shit? not my problem...