Vietnam, Cuba to Strengthen Investment Cooperation in Construction

Vietnamese Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi held talks with Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Mesa Villafana and Cuban construction units and enterprises within the framework of the 41st session of the Vietnam-Cuba Intergovernmental Committee in Havana, the Republic of Cuba, from April 11 to April 15.
April 24, 2024 | 12:31

The meeting between the two Ministers aimed to discuss the cooperation achievement in the construction field and the plan for the coming time. Regarding cooperation in the construction field between the two countries, Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Construction and the Cuban Ministry of Construction have exchanged delegations, and shared experiences, and discussed solutions to promote practical cooperation between construction enterprises of the two countries.

The relationship and cooperation between the two Ministries have brought positive results. In particular, Viglacera Corporation and the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUD) have created favorable conditions for Dinvai Vietnam Company to participate in providing supervision consulting services at several projects in Vietnam; Vietnam Machinery Installation Corporation (Lilama) sent a team of technical experts to Cuba to survey many cement factories and propose solutions to renovate, restore and improve production efficiency of these cement factories; Vietnam Cement Corporation (VICEM) visited and conducted a field survey at the cement factory in Artemisa province, Cuba. In addition, the Cuban business delegation includes Dinvai Cuba Company; Geicon Group had a working session with VICEM Vietnam to discuss cooperation plans.

Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi and the delegation held talks with Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Mesa Villafana and Cuban construction units and businesses.
Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi (C) and the Vietnamese delegation hold talks with Cuban Minister of Construction Rene Mesa Villafana and Cuban construction units and businesses.

During the talks, Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi and Vietnamese businesses investing in Cuba also mentioned some difficulties they were experiencing, specifically the SanVig Joint Venture, which, despite the two sides' joint efforts to implement, has yet to yield the desired results. Due to a lack of electricity and raw supplies, tile and sanitary ware industries are functioning at less than full capacity.

In addition, the Vietnamese Minister hopes that the two sides will continue to pay attention to and support enterprises on both sides to foster and strengthen close, practical, and successful collaboration in the construction sector. Regarding the problems of the SanVig Joint Venture, the Vietnamese official suggested that his counterpart prioritize supplying enough electricity, fuel, and materials for industries to ensure consistent production.

Hoang Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of Construction Management under the Ministry of Construction, also shared the responsibility of advising on policy. Cuba's construction industry specializes in construction design, consulting, and supervision of planning and construction, thus it is intended that Cuba will send professionals to increase collaboration in design, supervision, construction licensing management, and planning consulting. Under the guidance of the two Ministries, the Department of Construction Management will analyze and remove barriers to the construction capacity of Cuban firms in Vietnam, allowing Cuban businesses to engage in various projects in Vietnam.

As Cuba prioritizes fuel supplies for its people, manufacturing plants face fuel shortages, which impact the production and transportation of commodities. Cuba has strived to implement cooperative agreements and develop projects into viable ventures, but both sides' expectations have not been reached. Cuba will soon get rid of fuel shortages and reach agreements with numerous countries on gasoline supply to recommence production activity. Furthermore, Cuba has proposed a solution to create accounts in countries where Cuba exports items to earn foreign currency; and to promote cooperation in bringing Viglacera products manufactured in Cuba and Vietnam to Caribbean countries.

At the working session.
At the working session.

In terms of cooperation with functional units, the two countries can hold discussions to come up with ideas and suggest areas in which they can cooperate. The Cuban Ministry of Construction will provide profiles of potential development projects such as refurbishment, repair, factory construction, hotel maintenance, and construction projects. The Cuban Minister said that he would always accompany and be willing to engage with Vietnamese enterprises during the investment process in Cuba.

Responding to the Cuban Minister of Construction's proposals, Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi said the potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba remains large, particularly in the construction sector. The Vietnamese Ministry of Construction is eager to encourage Vietnamese enterprises to participate in investment cooperation with Cuba, as well as Cuban businesses to invest in Vietnam. If Vietnamese businesses and projects investing in Cuba overcome obstacles and operate effectively, they will be able to promote the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, increasing motivation to continue expanding production and investment in Cuba and attracting a large number of Vietnamese investors.

He agreed to Cuba's new cooperation proposals, which focused on the refurbishment, repair, and construction of cement factory projects, as well as tourism and real estate development. The results of the cooperation between the two Ministries will contribute to strengthening the traditional relations between Cuba and Vietnam, and will increasingly affirm the special solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, which were established by President Ho Chi Minh and President Fidel Castro and are being diligently nurtured by generations of leaders and people from both countries.

Minister Nguyen Thanh Nghi expects that the Cuban Minister of Construction will soon visit Vietnam to conduct a survey and exchange experiences with Dong Nai Province. In the near future, functional units and enterprises from the two ministries will meet to discuss particular issues and implement the material agreed upon by the two sides.

Vietnam, Cuba's Trade Unions Share Experiences, Expertise Vietnam, Cuba's Trade Unions Share Experiences, Expertise

Vietnam and Cuba trade unions need to further strengthen cooperation, share experiences to improve operational capacity, and support each other in international forums. This is ...

Vietnam, Cuba Ties - Rare in International Relations Vietnam, Cuba Ties - Rare in International Relations

In spite of geographical distance, one country in the Eastern Hemisphere and the other in the Western Hemisphere, Vietnam and Cuba have still maintained close ...

Vietnam, Cuba Boost Military, Defence Cooperation Vietnam, Cuba Boost Military, Defence Cooperation

A young officer delegation from the Cuban Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces is visting Vietnam.

Phuong Nguyen
Phiên bản di động