1-23-08, 6:00 pm

HAVANA, January 21 (PL).— California Agriculture Secretary Arthur Kawamura, confirmed here on Monday that he is visiting Cuba on an exploratory mission to promote the sale of products from this state in the western United States.

It is the first time that a delegation from the state of California has visited Cuba, Kawamura informed the press in Havana’s Hotel Nacional, speaking with Pedro Alvarez, president of the Cuban food distribution company, ALIMPORT.

Kawamura, who is accompanied by 20 businesspeople from the state, indicated that they are offering some 400 food industry products for sale, among them cotton, wheat and vegetables.

He also mentioned learning about Cuban agriculture and sharing experiences as another objective of the visit.

He emphasized that California is the major agricultural producer in the United States and exports one fourth of all its harvests.

In a statement to Prensa Latina, Kawamura described the Cuban market as interesting and with great potential, with the added advantage of its geographical proximity to the United States.

Alvarez recalled that agricultural trade with the United States is only one-way, limited by the economic blockade imposed by that country on Cuba.

U.S. producers are adversely affected by the restrictions against Cuba established by the country, which prevent the growth of sales, travel and investment in the island, putting them at a disadvantage with respect to their competitors.

Alvarez also warned that significant increases in food costs as a result of the high price of oil and the production of biofuels could bring hunger to many people around the world.

Translated by Granma International