Greetings from Havana. I spent 3 days last week with the Florida bar learning about the Cuban legal system and foreign investment from local and Canadian lawyers and a Cuban-based American reporter. I have spent the past several days looking at art from over 40 countries at the Biennal. My internet is spotty and I’m typing this on my phone so please excuse any spacing issues. Only 5 percent of people have internet access so a hotel lobby is prized real estate.
Over the next few months I will be researching about Cuba, foreign investment, and the human rights implications. I have a particular interest in this because for many years pre-academy I had to ensure that my former company and its subsidiaries did not violate the law by doing business with Cuba. Although the embargo is still in place, more and more US companies are applying every day for OFAC licenses to enter the Cuban market.
If you have any insight/opinions on the pros/cons of bilateral investment treaties (there are already dozens with Cuba), whether Cuba will follow the VietNam model for modernizing its economy, or whether foreign investment can spur human rights reforms or just perpetuate the status quo let me know in the comments or via email at mnarine@stu.edu. For those who follow the Cuba issue, the US Congress has been busy this week proposing and passing legislation on doing business with the island.
Next week when I have a more stable internet connection I’ll give you my impressions on doing business in Cuba. In the meantime, adios.