Havana Trade Fair Opens Monday

HAVANA TIMES, Nov. 1.-The 26th Havana International Fair (FIHAV 2008), one of the most important commercial events held in Cuba, takes place this year from November 3-8.

Each year participants from dozens of countries bring their products and services to the fair, hoping to make contacts and obtain contracts with potential buyers.

The fair covers a wide range of products from consumer goods to machinery, equipment, technology, raw materials and services. The main exhibitors will be from Spain, Canada, China, Italy, Panama and Germany.

One of the big attractions for attending business people is the chance to see the latest technological advances, usually brought by the Asian exhibitors.

The final day of the fair is open to the public and often turns into a family outing to see the new products coming from distant lands.

The fair will be open Monday November 3rd to Friday the 7th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for visits by professionals and business people. It opens to the general public on Saturday Nov. 8, the final day.

So far a total of 450 firms from 56 countries have confirmed their presence and the exposition area is nearly 13,000 sq. meters, the equivalent of 13 blocks. A total of 2,100 foreign business people are accredited to attend.

FIVAH 2008 has its headquarters at the EXPOCUBA fairgrounds located 25 kilometers from downtown Havana in the city of Arroyo Naranjo. The telephone numbers are 866-4381 and 838-9173.