Sage advice for doing business with Cubans

WHILE trade and commerce with Cuba remain slow, Thaninga Shope-Linney, the South African ambassador to Havana, has urged South African business people to remain level-headed when doing business in Cuba.

Speaking at a briefing session and a showcase of locally made products and services at the week-long Havana International Fair (Fihav) with South African entrepreneurs, she said the slow place was a minor hurdle in a market that is otherwise eager and determined to do business with South Africa and the rest of the African continent.

“We have a serious transport issue in terms of the blockade to ship goods to Cuba and I ask that you not grow impatient to these external factors because in the middle of all these there exists a host of opportunities which we can mutually benefit from.

“When encountering challenges, be it of an administrative or any other form, never hesitate to engage the embassy for assistance. Please ensure that you notify the embassy when you venture into the country,” said Shope-Linney.

In addition, she said small businesses were quite dominant in Cuba. She highlighted that there was a lot that could be learnt from Cuba pertaining to their model of promoting small businesses.

“I feel there is plenty we can learn from them. Yes, the commerce is a challenge, the practice of transactions is also cumbersome, but I urge you not to give up and keep persisting. I also would like to urge the Department of Trade and Industry to increase the number of companies for Fihav 2018 to ensure that we are represented in all sectors,” urged Shope-Linney.

Mosibudi Makgato, who brews Yamama Gemmer Ginger Beer and was part of the business delegation, shared advice that she plans to incorporate into her marketing strategy.

“I learnt that ginger beer is very big in Cuba, and the most valuable advice I learnt from the locals was that I must look at ways of marketing my product not only as a soft drink but also as a health drink because its efficacy is valued in Cuba. As a way forward, I will look at ways of repackaging it.

“I even secured a lead from a representative of a company in Trinidad and Tobago which I will be following up on when back in the country,” Makgato said.