Unilever Corporation Plots Return to Cuba
HAVANA TIMES — The Dutch multinational Unilever, one of the largest global manufacturers of personal hygiene and home care products will return to Cuba after being authorized to create a joint venture with majority ownership, reported dpa news.
The company, which will partner with the State firm Intersuchel, will invest more than US $35 million and should begin operating this year in the free zone of the port of Mariel, located about 40 kilometers west of Havana.
Unilever will hold 60 percent of the shares in the “joint venture” according to the announcement by the Dutch company and representatives of the Cuban government, coinciding with a visit to the island by the Netherlands’ Foreign Trade Minister, Lilianne Ploumen.
The European multinational had ceased production on the island in 2012, after having operated since 1994.
Over these last years, Unilever conducted negotiations with the Cuban authorities and finally came to an agreement allowing for the majority foreign ownership.
To date, it is rare for foreign companies to have a majority in the “joint ventures” with the Cuban State companies. Joint ventures are the most common mode of operation for foreign investment on the island,.
“We hope that Dutch companies can come, invest and work with the Cuban side” said Ploumen, who arrived Sunday to the island accompanied by a delegation of 77 representatives of Dutch companies. It was a “long process” of negotiation, she noted.
“I believe that Cuba will be a big market for us,” said Fabio Prado, division president of Unilever for Mexico and the Caribbean.
“In order to stimulate the economy and employment, we opted for local production,” added the manager, who spoke of the creation of 300 direct jobs on the island.
“We will be producing on Cuban soil international brands such as Sunsilk, Omo, Lux and Close-Up,” he added.
According to the plan approved by the Cuban Council of Ministers, the joint venture Unilever-Suchel will build a facility at Mariel for the production of toiletries, personal care products, cleaning and home care products and also will be responsible for distribution throughout the country. The production itself should begin in late 2017.
Unilever, one of the largest companies in the field, sells around 50 billion euros a year (about 54 billion USD) and operates in 190 countries with 300 brand names. The firm, which also features British capital, is the first Dutch company authorized to operate in Mariel.
Since late 2013, Cuba has been trying to attract foreign investment to the Mariel Special Development Zone, offering tax advantages. The container port and free trade zone are one of the main projects of the government of Raul Castro to try to overcome the chronic economic crisis on the island.
I would like to raise my children in poverty, get their degrees and then have them work in resorts for tips….brilliant Gordon
I couldn’t agree more. Children do best when they are raised in places where new Chinese buses with American engines break down and languish in disrepair.
Semi? I applaud your diplomacy.
Wow, talk about a non sequitur!
IC, I even think Circles is throwing his hands up! I do like how C.Robinson runs this site as even those who are semi-mentally challenged have a seat at the table!
This is one of the many reasons I choose to raise my Cuban – Canadian children in Cuba.
Didn’t you just finish warning CUBA about “foreign investment” on another article and hear you are celebrating it. ??
This is good news for Cuba. But as the post points out, Unilever is not new to Cuba. This new 60/40 split is what’s new. Why couldn’t the Castros have agreed to this deal sooner? This stubbornness has obviously not served the Cuban people well.
The newer Chinese buses and taxis are very nice and were likely financed by the
Chinese government. During my 2014 visit however I learned that many of the buses were already out-of-service. The bus company elected to power them with American engines and were having problems getting spare parts.
I doubt that the Unilever deal had little to do with the Panama canal and everything to do with majority ownership. Unilever produced for the Cuban domestic market for years and that will be its focus again. I think the Cubans are learning – slowly.
This is good news. The winners may well be the ones who get in first.
Just as I said this would happen – many more deals to come as the new Panama canal is nearly finished – Si !!!
This is amazing news in that Unilever appears to be getting a 60% interest which has been unheard of in the past. Items that Cuban’s desperately need so makes sense. Also interesting how my dermatologist, who visited Cuba a few weeks back told me the buses his group rode on were from China and commented they were as good or better than ones he rode on in the states. This is getting interesting and perhaps of concern to United States companies wanting to do business with Cuba.