Cuban President Invites Iranian Brands to Enter Chain Stores in Cuba

TEHRAN (Iran News) Díaz-Canel was welcomed by Samad Hassanzadeh, President of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture; Ghadir Giafeh, the chamber’s Vice President; and Iran’s Ambassador to Cuba, Zabihollah Naderi. The Cuban president toured booths showcasing the capabilities of Iranian companies in industrial manufacturing, exports and various commercial services.

During discussions with representatives of Iranian firms, Díaz-Canel reviewed details of their products, technologies and export capacities, expressing hope that the exhibition and its accompanying trade forums would pave the way for stronger cooperation, expanded economic ties and new trade opportunities between the two nations. He emphasized that Cuba fully supports mutual investment and the development of economic exchanges with Iran.

Iran’s pavilion features companies active in petrochemicals, food production, industrial equipment, clothing, trade services and economic institutions — a presence that Díaz-Canel praised as demonstrating Cuba’s interest in deeper cooperation with Iran.

During his visit to a booth of an Iranian pump manufacturer, he instructed officials to facilitate meetings between the company’s representatives, Cuba’s Water Resources Institute and the Minister of Foreign Trade to explore technical collaboration.

While visiting Iranian food producers, the Cuban president invited them to visit local chain stores and plan for product distribution in Cuba. In discussions with Iranian footwear manufacturers, he encouraged direct negotiations with Cuban companies to identify areas for joint production.

Díaz-Canel also pointed to a recent agreement between Iran’s and Cuba’s food and drug regulatory agencies as a model that could be expanded to other fields of economic cooperation.

Samad Hassanzadeh, who accompanied the Cuban president during the visit, praised Cuba’s cooperation in providing vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic and said Iran’s Chamber of Commerce is working to increase private sector presence in the Cuban market by improving knowledge of its regulations and needs.

He stressed that unfamiliarity with market demands remains a key obstacle to expanding trade, urging both governments to facilitate exchange of market information for greater business interaction.

Hassanzadeh identified pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, tourism, agricultural investment and mining as attractive sectors for expanding bilateral cooperation.

Meanwhile later Hassanzadeh said that addressing challenges in Cuba’s agricultural supply chain could become one of Iran’s areas of activity in the country. He also emphasized that Iran is well-positioned to help revive Cuban industries that have been inactive for years.

Speaking to Al-Mayadeen during the 41st Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2025), which opened in a formal ceremony attended by Cuba’s president, economic ministers, ambassadors, and heads of business chambers, Hassanzadeh highlighted the participation of major Iranian producers, economic actors, and leading industrial and food companies in the event. He noted that Iran’s significant capabilities in technical and engineering services, oil and petrochemical industries could support expanded economic cooperation with Cuba.

The head of the Iran Chamber stressed that many Iranian products are well-suited to Cuba’s market needs. With advanced technology and expertise across multiple sectors, he said, Iran could provide valuable support in restoring Cuban industries that have been dormant for years, enabling Cuba to benefit from Iran’s capacities and resources.

Hassanzadeh pointed to sugarcane cultivation as a promising area for bilateral agricultural initiatives, stating that the Iranian private sector is prepared to help resolve challenges in Cuba’s supply chain based on Iran’s agricultural capabilities.

He also called Cuba’s recent achievements in biomedical research and vaccine development a strong foundation for mutual cooperation, adding that Iran’s own accomplishments in healthcare make “health diplomacy” a practical path for strengthening bilateral relations.

Regarding Cuba’s tourism sector, Hassanzadeh said he has instructed the Iran Chamber’s International Affairs Department to take effective steps to better familiarize Iranian businesses with the Cuban market in order to identify opportunities for the presence of Iranian products in the country.

Vice President Ghadir Giafeh also pointed to the potential of the mining and mineral industries, expressing hope that trade volume between Iran and Cuba could reach $1 billion annually within five years through a focus on this sector.

While trade between Iran and Cuba has grown steadily in recent years, officials acknowledged it remains far below its potential. In 2023, bilateral trade reached approximately $218 million — a significant rise from previous years but still short of capacity.

Iran’s main exports to Cuba include petroleum derivatives, petrochemicals, construction materials and food products such as rice, wheat, poultry and oilseeds. Cuba’s major imports from Iran consist of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and technical and engineering services.