WASHINGTON, D.C. — A group of over 100 of Cuba’s most important entrepreneurs delivered a letter to President Elect Donald Trump asking him to move forward with changes to U.S. policy that are allowing more U.S. travel, trade and investment with Cuba. Cuban entrepreneurs Marta Deus, Julia de la Rosa, Marla Recio and Yamina Vicente traveled to Washington, D.C. to deliver the letter and discuss the initiative with members of Congress.
Signees of the letter include owners of Cuba’s top paladars (private restaurants), bed & breakfasts, car services, hair salons, tech companies and professionals in accounting, design, printing and construction, showing broad support amongst Cuban entrepreneurs for maintaining regulatory changes that help their businesses.
According to the letter, the group of Cubans in the growing private sector hope that president-elect Trump, a businessman, will see the benefits for business in both countries:
As a successful businessman, we’re confident that you understand the importance of economic engagement between nations. Small businesses in Cuba have the potential to be drivers of economic growth and important partners of the U.S. business community. Additional measures to increase travel, trade and investment, including working with the U.S. Congress to lift the embargo, will benefit our companies, the Cuban people and U.S. national interests. We look forward to taking advantage of any openings that your administration makes to the Cuban private sector and the Cuban economy as a whole.
Collin Laverty
Collin Laverty, president of Cuba Educational Travel, who works closely with the Cuban private sector as well as American companies operating in Cuba, said, “We cannot turn our backs on Cuban entrepreneurs at this pivotal moment in time. Increased travel and trade with the U.S. has driven demand for their products and services, and there is no greater way to support them than direct interaction with the American people.” Laverty added, “Walking away now will kill the dreams of hundreds of thousands of Cuban entrepreneurs, harm the well-being of millions of Cuban families and once again demonstrate that the U.S. is more concerned about politics than people.”
TEXT OF THE LETTER BELOW
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016
Dear President Elect Donald Trump:
Congratulations on your election as president of the United States. The Cuban people, particularly the private sector in Cuba, watched the election with much interest. As you know, U.S. policy towards Cuba greatly affects our day-to-day reality, including our commercial relationship with the United States and the rest of the world.
As Cuban entrepreneurs, we have experienced a great deal of change over the last several years. Changes by our government allow for increased private sector activity and we’ve seen significant growth in small businesses in our country. Over a half of million people now work in the private sector, earning considerably more money than state jobs and offering more autonomy in business decisions. We’re hopeful that our government will make additional changes to the legal framework and market conditions in the future.
Reforms made by the U.S. government to allow for increased travel, telecom services and banking have helped substantially as we attempt to grow our businesses. An influx of American and Cuban American visitors stimulates growth for our businesses, directly and indirectly. Better internet and long-distance calling improves marketing, product sourcing and interaction with customers. Improved banking relations to facilitate payments by U.S. companies and U.S. travelers is key to long-term growth. Increased interaction and business dealings with U.S. travelers and U.S. companies has had important economic benefits, the exchanges of ideas and knowledge, and offered much hope for the future.
As a successful businessman, we’re confident that you understand the importance of economic engagement between nations. Small businesses in Cuba have the potential to be drivers of economic growth in Cuba and important partners of the U.S. business community. Additional measures to increase travel, trade and investment, including working with the U.S. Congress to lift the embargo, will benefit our companies, the Cuban people and U.S. national interests. We look forward to taking advantage of any openings that your administration makes to the Cuban private sector and the Cuban economy as a whole.
