From New Orleans to Havana
On Saturday, March 14, 2015, a group of nearly 80 Louisiana business, civic leaders and attorneys will depart from Louis Armstrong International Airport on the first nonstop flight from New Orleans to Cuba since 1958. The group is attending the first ever Cuba Hoy (“Cuba Today”) Conference in Havana from March 14 – 21, with the goal of exploring potential new opportunities in Cuba.
As a new dialogue between the United States and Cuba unfolds, two New Orleans-based organizations – the International Cuba Society and At the Threshold – have partnered with the University of Havana to host the Cuba Hoy Conference. The conference will combine education with cultural and business encounters between citizens of the United States and Cuba. It is designed for Louisiana business and civic leaders and attorneys to engage with Cuban contacts in various industries and explore potential new business opportunities.
“Reestablishing Louisiana’s historically strong ties with Cuba could have a huge economic impact on Louisiana, particularly New Orleans,” Joe Doss, President of At The Threshold, said. “This trip will help position Louisiana as a leader in the engagement process and set the stage for a mutually beneficial relationship.”
“In anticipation of the U.S. moving towards a policy of engagement with Cuba, the International Cuba Society has offered a conciliatory hand to Cuba – as a past and future friend and partner – and it is imperative that our local business and civic leaders follow suit,” Romualdo “Romi” Gonzales, Chairman of the International Cuba Society, said.
Through lectures and discussions with expert presenters from both the U.S. and Cuba, attendees will have the opportunity to gain knowledge and establish relationships beneficial to their business and their clients, and useful in addressing a myriad of issues and opportunities. The seminars will focus on practical information, discussion, and recent developments in several broad areas of interest, including Property and Foreign Investment, Balancing Historic Preservation and Urban Revitalization, Energy Development and Environmental Considerations, and Disaster Resilience.
The sessions are sponsored by the University of Havana Law School and accredited by Louisiana’s Continuing Legal Education committee, so attorneys can earn their CLE hours for 2015.
Conference attendees will also enjoy cultural exchanges and visits to some of Cuba’s most interesting and historic sites. All participants will travel legally under a U.S. Treasury Department People-to-People license, in conjunction with licensed Travel Service Provider Cuba Travel-USA (Lic. C-14963). In addition, efforts will be made to arrange private meetings for conference attendees with key contacts in various areas of interest.
“This is a unique cultural opportunity, but it is also an historic one, as this will be the first nonstop flight from New Orleans to Havana since 1958,” Gonzalez said.
(From: Biz New Orleans)
