Technology – Havana wants German know-how – Frankfurter Rundschau

July 19, 2015

Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to visit to Cuba. Photo: AP

The Communist leadership in Cuba has great interest in German technology and expertise. In agriculture, medical technology, the energy sector, the Cubans want more German engagement.

At the end of this trip in the Caribbean socialism were almost all satisfied , The Cubans have won Germany a potential cooperation partners, the federal government has taken a major step towards the end of the isolation in Havana. Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier recorded another diplomatic success after the nuclear deal with Iran. And the cultural mediators hope to open the long-awaited Goethe Institute soon.

Only the entrepreneurs are not quite satisfied after the 30-hour trip by Steinmeier. Although a contact office of the German economy seems to no longer be excluded, but it was the view of the terraces Manager too few concessions on cutting red tape

Also another issue came up short. The civil and liberties. Steinmeier said the issue in its discussions with Raúl Castro. But the president countered the message with an ironic remark: In the best marriage there were differences of opinion

Now many negotiating delegations are between Havana and Berlin travel back and forth and trying economic in the points. cooperation, cultural exchanges and development assistance move together. The fact that the differences are not of “overnight” overcome, should be clear. But the conditions for success have never been better. Castro and his leadership have evidently assigned a privileged place in the ranking of the partner of Germany. You do not want a third time make the same mistake in Havana and to make them dependent on one big brother. That was already with the Soviet Union awry, with Venezuela the drama repeated precisely. The communist leadership has great interest in German technology and expertise. In agriculture, medical technology, the energy sector, the Cubans want more German engagement.

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But the Economy Minister and Vice President of the Council of Ministers, Marino Murillo, drew a thick red line. Private sector should be strengthened, but is more importantly a functioning state economy. Also at the practice of recruitment of workers was being held. So far examined a government agency of the employees for foreign companies. This should, remain in spite of the appeal of the private sector so. In addition, Cuba is anything but a low-wage country. $ 1000 monthly salary for an employee are the rule – payable to the State Agency. These are $ 60 the employees – the rest shall remove a state.