HAVANA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- A delegation from the U.S. city of Tampa is in Cuba to search for new business opportunities despite the recent decline of bilateral relations.
The delegation held a business meeting with several Cuban institutions on Monday. Cuban participants included representatives of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (CITMA), the Ministry of Transportation, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment and the biotechnology industry.
"We want to increase cooperation in different areas because we are a city very close to Cuba and with a history with this country," said Ivonne Yolie Capi, the president of the City Council of Tampa, at the forum.
This is the first delegation which visits Cuba after the U.S. government decided to withdraw more than half of its diplomatic staff on the island after alleging Havana failed to protect them from "mysterious acoustic attacks."
Washington also responded to these incidents by expelling 15 Cuban diplomats in the United States, which Havana called "unacceptable."
At the business meeting Monday, Maria de la Luz B'Hamel, the North American director of the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Cuba, said Cuba is willing to cooperate with different American cities despite the worsening of bilateral links.
"We remain open to meetings of this type to be able to identify new possibilities to advance in our relations despite all the obstacles," she said.
B'Hamel said the main obstacle to increasing ties lies in "the existence, permanence and intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade" maintained by the United States against Cuba.
As part of its visit, the delegation plans to visit the Special Development Zone of Mariel, about 50 km west of Havana, the main foreign investment project in the island aimed at boosting the economy and generating exports.
The U.S. delegation will end its visit on Tuesday.
