A total of 28 private-sector Japanese companies who are creditors of the Cuban government inked their final debt rescheduling agreements Tuesday with the country, clearing a major hurdle on the road to bilateral economic activities.
During a signing ceremony in Tokyo, Cuban government and banking officials, along with some 80 officials from 28 member firms of the Japan-Cuba Economic Conference, an organization that promotes bilateral trade and investment, expressed hope that their futures with Cuba would blossom.
"The issue of debt rescheduling has long prevented us from restoring our relationship as trade partners," said Takehiko Tsuchiya, chairman of the JCEC. "I strongly hope the agreement reached today will stimulate further economic activities between us."
He urged the Japanese side to further promote business in Cuba, now that the country has made it clear it will continue to implement the terms of business contracts under the new agreement.
The 28 member firms that signed the agreement Tuesday include major trading companies Itochu Corp., Nissho Iwai Corp. and Marubeni Corp., as well as such construction firms as Kato Works Co. and Komatsu Ltd.