(2 Nov 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot Ricardo Cabrisas, Cuban Vice President, cutting ribbon at Havana International Fair
2. Cabrisas greeting exhibitors
3. Pan right people at stands
4. US products stand
5. Mid of US rice stand
6. Zoom out from US flag on sign reading: "Made in USA"
7. Wide shot stand with American
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Terry Coleman, State of Georgia Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture:
"Quite frankly, the US is not ready, nor do we believe Cuba is ready, for a massive group of Americans to come down here as tourists. It will take a couple of years, maybe longer, but the steps we have seen so far are very positive. They're positive for expanding our trade, our agricultural trade and humanitarian trade. We see great signs of improvement."
9. Tilt down from Crowley Liner Services sign to booth
10. Zoom in Florida produce and sardine stand
11. Tilt down Miller beer pyramid display
12. Wide of International Fair sign
STORYLINE
The XXVII International Fair of Business and Commerce of Havana opened its doors on Monday with the participation of more than 600 companies from 51 countries.
Among the participating countries are Germany, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Spain, Italy, and the United States.
The US imposed an embargo against the island in 1962 that prohibits general commerce between both countries.
A year 2000 law allows American companies to sell food products to the island if payment is made in cash; there is no credit allowed.
Bilateral business between the two countries has fallen by 30 percent this year due to the global economic crisis and the inability of American producers to extend credit to cash-strapped Cuba.
This year, 35 US companies are present at the fair with over 200 Americans working the exhibit stands, a far cry from 2005 when more than 300 representatives of 171 American firms were in attendance.
Among those present at Monday's inauguration was Terry Coleman, the state of Georgia's Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, who expressed his pleasure at recent developments in relations between US President Barack Obama's administration and Cuba.
"It will take a couple of years, maybe longer", said Coleman referring to the normalisation of relations, "but the steps we have seen so far are very positive. Very positive for expanding our trade, our agricultural trade and humanitarian trade. We see great signs of improvement", added Coleman.
Due to the tight restrictions on bilateral trade between the island and Washington, much of the 10 (b) billion US dollars worth of foreign business that Cuba has to offer ends up in the hands of other nations.
Spain is the country with the most representatives at this year's fair with a total of 80 companies.
Spain was Cuba's third largest business partner in 2008 with trade exceeding 400 (m) million dollars.
Venezuela is the island's principal partner. According to Cuba's National Office of Statistics, the business exchange between both countries reached over 5.2 (b) billion US dollars in 2008 compared to 945 (m) million back in 2003.
China is Cuba's second-largest business partner. Trade exceeded 2 (b) billion dollars in 2008, but was down by almost 300 (m) million from the previous year.
Some 300 Cuban firms are also taking part, the most famous being those representing Cuban rum and tobacco products.
Cuba is currently undergoing an economic crisis that has forced local authorities to lower their economic growth expectancy to 1.7 percent while president Raul Castro has called for a reduction in imports to be substituted by locally produced goods.
The fair runs from 2 to 7 November.
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