Omsk hopes for increased trade with Cuba

Cuba’s ambassador to Russia, Emilio Lozada García, arrived Tuesday (May 6) in Omsk for a meeting with the governor of that region, Viktor Nazarov.

According to the Russian press, Nazarov said that he had invited Lozada to discuss increased trade and cooperation. The potential for closer relations between Omsk and Cuba is “underutilized,” he was quoted as saying.

It is necessary to develop greater cooperation in the exchange of goods and food, the governor said. In addition, he said, Omsk is interested in supplying Cuba with equipment for oil and natural gas extraction and refinement.

“These are the areas of relationship that can be built long-range, despite the distances that separate Russia from the republic of Cuba,” Nazarov said. “And we shall do everything we can to make our region a reliable partner in trade and economic and humanitarian ties between our two countries.”

Present at the meeting were some of the Cuban officers who are now studying at the Omsk Tank Engineering Institute, one of many universities, institutes and academies in the region.

“Omsk universities are ready to provide quality training [to Cuba,] not only on military subjects but also on civilian engineering professions, including railway transportation and petrochemical research and development,” the governor said.

Ambassador Lozada thanked Nazarov for his interest and invited him to visit Cuba at the head of a trade and economic mission. He remarked that Cuba was eager to promote tourism between the two capitals.

Omsk (pop. 1.15 million) is Russia’s seventh largest city. It is situated in southwestern Siberia, near the border with the republic of Kazakhstan. It is the junction point for the northern and southern branches of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

(PHOTO SHOWS Gov. Viktor Nazarov greeting Cuban officers studying in Omsk.)