‘Cuban-Indian friendship has withstood the proof of time’

An exclusive interview with the Cuban ambassador in India

Bela Malik Delhi

A newly emergent global equation has developed in Latin America and the Caribbean region with the left in the reckoning in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. Cuba is being brought into the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom). There is the move towards the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (Alba). The message given to President George W Bush in the Fourth Summit of the Americas by Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Uruguay was clear on the Free Trade Area of the Americas. It looks as though the Bolivarian revolution for an independent America is ongoing in the continent and the US efforts to isolate Venezuela are not going to be so easy. These developments provide an opportunity for India. It was in this context that Hardnews spoke to Juan F. Carretero Ibañez, Ambassador of Cuba. 

Excerpts from the interview. 

What are the ways in which economic, strategic and other solidarities between Latin America and the Caribbean and India can be forged to mutual benefit?

India can have a natural and strategic partnership with Latin America in the political and economic fields because of their shared history of colonialism and underdevelopment. The new progressive governments in power in Latin America are keen to forge partnerships with developing countries. India has a long tradition of an independent non-aligned foreign policy. Both Latin America and India constitute large markets and are resource-rich, which makes it sensible to go for economic partnerships rather than competition. The new economic integration schemes such as Mercosur and Alba present an opportunity for India. Triangles of cooperation can be developed between Venezuela, Cuba and India just as India is moving towards forging a powerful triangle of free trade cooperation with Brazil and South Africa, and along the lines China is pursuing investment and technology inputs into Latin Amercia. Indian businesspeople are already visiting Latin America and the Caribbean. Such excha-nges can continue.

What are the areas in which economic relations can be strengthened between the Cuba and India?

There is tremendous possibility here, which is already being explored. Cuba is involved in the construction of laboratories and the transfer of monoclonal biotechnology to India. A vaccine for certain cancers is under clinical trial in India before Bicom India Ltd can get the license to produce it. 

In oil exploration, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) is in western Cuba in the Gulf of Mexico. OVL has entered into an agreement with Repsol-YPF for deepwater exploration, pending Cuban approval.

India can offer its affordable generic medicines to Cuba. Raw materials can be imported from India for manufacturing drugs and medicines in Cuba. Indian entrepreneurs can explore Cuba's tourism industry and the sector of renewable energy (solar panels, for example). 

Cuba and India have shared a fraternal relationship for more than 45 years, one that has been continued by different governments in Delhi. President Fidel Castro was invited to India by President Abdul Kalam in 2003 and we hope that he will honour the invitation as soon as he can. The next year Cuba will host the non-aligned summit and with India's active role in that body, relations between the two countries can only strengthen.

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