Representatives of the Macfrut Fair, the main European event for the marketing in the fruit and vegetable sector, toured agricultural and industrial areas in Ciego de Ávila, during a working visit after the presentation of the 2022 edition of the fair, where Cuba has already confirmed its participation.

Mr. Renzo Piraccini, president of the Macfrut Fair, toured the semi-protected crop areas belonging to the Ceballos Agroindustrial Company, as well as the UEB Vegetables. The directors of the Italian Agency for Foreign Trade-Office accompanied him for the promotion of commercial exchange Embassy of Italy (ICE), and the Agricultural Group, as well as specialists from the Chamber of Commerce and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.

They also came to the combined, where Piraccino was able to check the assembly of a production line acquired in Italy, for the Macfrut 2018 Fair. The Agro-industrial Ceballos was one of the 10 Cuban companies that attended last year's edition and it would not be surprise that he does it in the future.

To be held between May 4 and 6, the Italian fair, based at the Rimini Expo Center, will focus on the use of spices and aromatic and medicinal plants, according to a note from the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Cuba (CCRC).

The president of the CCRC, Antonio Luis Carricarte Corona, expressed "his gratitude for the visit and stressed that participation in this event is part of Cuba's strategy to access the Italian market, and that it is in continuous improvement together with all actors in the value chain.

For his part, Piraccino said that Macfrut "continues to prove to be the strategic partner of the initiatives of the Italian system in favor of development, favoring the meeting between the technologies of Italian companies and the needs of Cuban counterparts and, thanks to the platform of exhibition, support them in the identification of new export markets”.

According to the fair's official website, Macfrut's commitment to Cuba stems from the positive results obtained in last year's edition and the need to access the Italian market, particularly for the technology sector in which Italy is the world leader.

“Our projects in Cuba support development processes aimed at improving access and availability of food in the country and, for the first time, promoting synergies with the Italian excellence of our companies, with the aim of creating new economic and social opportunities and the sustainability of interventions. In this sense, ICE and the Italian business sector undoubtedly represent the best possible allies,” Dr. Antonio Festa, director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Cuba, said.

Italy is promoting two cooperation projects on the island in the area of ​​food production: HAB.AMA. Food self-sufficiency and development of sustainable economic initiatives in Havana and CUBAFRUTA. Strengthening of the pineapple and avocado value chains at the local level.

Enzo Piraccino and the representatives of the Italian foreign trade and cooperation agencies also visited the Victoria de Girón Agro-industrial Company, in Matanzas, and the Non-Agricultural Cooperative CNA Purita Industries, the Sierra Maestra Science, Technology and Innovation Entity and the Company Select Fruits, from Havana.