HC Deb 19 June 1953 vol 516 cc95-6W
Mr. Russell

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to make a statement about the recent visit of the Cuban Trade Mission to this country.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The Trade Mission from Cuba led by His Excellency the Cuban Minister of Labour, Dr. Carlos Saladrigas, has recently spent nearly four weeks in this country meeting representatives of United Kingdom industry and visiting a large number of factories. They came at the invitation of Her Majesty's Government and in response to encouragement given by the Mission to the Caribbean countries led by Brigadier Crosland when that Mission visited Cuba last December.

The Mission have been primarily concerned to inform themselves at first hand as to the types of goods we have available and about delivery dates and terms and prices.

The Mission have concentrated largely on engineering goods, but they have had discussions with industry on many other goods as well, such as textiles, chemicals and pre-fabricated houses. They have thus been able to obtain a clear picture of United Kingdom industry and of the many classes of goods which we could sell to Cuba.

The Mission are about to return to Cuba to report to the Cuban Government and to tell Cuban traders and manufacturers what they have seen here so that they may be fully alive to the opportunities which exist in the United Kingdom for meeting their requirements.

For their part the Cuban Government have themselves stated that they will do all they can to encourage importers to buy more goods in the United Kingdom. They are as anxious as we are to see trade between the two countries increase and our adverse trade balance with Cuba reduced.

United Kingdom exporters will now wish to follow up energetically the opportunities which have been created by this Mission. I am sure that it is right that United Kingdom exporters should, wherever possible, themselves visit Cuba and thus be in a position to take advantage on the spot of the contacts which have been created and of the good will which exists in Cuba towards this country. Competition from other countries will be keen and, as the Mission under Brigadier Crosland have already emphasised in their report, energetic salesmanship will be essential.

Given this, I see no reason why the United Kingdom should not secure a much larger share of the Cuban market than is the case at present. There is a great deal to be done, however, and very determined and persistent efforts by United Kingdom exporters will be necessary.