From the CEO OF EMIS

President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Cuba last week was another milestone in the opening up of a pivotal new market in Latin America. But the symbolic significance of this event for the Latin American region as a whole is probably greater than any immediate benefits for the Cuban people or foreign businesses looking for opportunities there. After all, from a business perspective Cuba is a relatively small country and major restrictions remain in place for foreign investment. It is also likely to take some time for the benefits of this economic

thawing to be felt by the Cuban population.

The greater significance lies in the positive effect that this rapprochement is likely to have on the relationship of other Latin American countries with the United States. The US’ isolationist policy towards Cuba has been viewed poorly for a considerable time by other countries in the region. President Obama’s abandonment of this divisive policy should remove another barrier to US/Latin American trade and political engagement. Indeed, the next stop-off for the president was Argentina where attitudes to the US and other Western partners are improving and creating the basis for economic growth. Not for the first time, it looks like Cuba’s importance on the world stage is belying its size.

Best wishes,

Guy Dunn
Chief Executive Officer

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