KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica is moving to strengthen co-operation with Cuba on key industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, which can benefit both nations.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Karl Samuda said the island is seeking to learn from the experience of Cuba, which “has done remarkably well with limited resources” and has stayed on the cutting edge of competition through introducing new technology.

Samuda said one of the major areas discussed during the meeting was how Jamaica could benefit from Cuba’s skills in sugar cane cultivation and sugar production.

“Our sugar industry is one sector where we feel we can gain a lot by being exposed to their training techniques and their approaches, in terms of the development of the factories and also the sugar fields as well,” he said.

The Cuban minister extended an invitation for a team from Jamaica to visit Cuba to see firsthand the techniques, methodology and the technology applied in Cuba to making the sugar industry there one of the most vibrant of its kind in the world.

The minister added that Jamaica could also benefit from Cuba’s successes in the area of animal husbandry, where an alternative feeding program is used to reduce dependency on imported raw materials for the manufacture of animal feed.

He said Jamaica also hopes to exchange ideas and approaches with Cuba in training opportunities in critical industries.

Cuba Ambassador Ileana Núñez Mordoche noted that while both countries have excellent diplomatic and political relations, the main objective now is to increase bilateral trade.