Viglacera starts construction of first IP at Cuban special economic zone

Havana (VNA) – ViMariel S.A – a subsidiary of Vietnam Glass and Ceramics for Construction Corporation (Viglacera) – began construction of the first industrial park in Mariel Special Economic Development Zone (ZEDM) in Cuba on November 28.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Vice President of the Councils of State and Ministers Ramiro Valdes Menendez and Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz from Cuba alongside Vietnam’s Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha and Ambassador to Cuba Nguyen Trung Thanh.

Addressing the event, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz spoke highly of the project, saying its construction begins with the 36th meeting of the Vietnam – Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee taking place in Havana from November 26 – 30.

He also expressed his confidence in the success of the “strategic” project which was described as “special” in the two countries’ relations.

Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha, for his part, said long-standing ties between Vietnam and Cuba have laid a strong foundation for Viglacera to carry out this project. He expected the project would meet the needs for development of both nations.

ViMariel S.A was established by Viglacera in February 2018. The firm has obtained rights to build an industrial park with complete road, telecommunications, water supply and electricity infrastructure on an area of 156 hectares in the ZEDM. It was authorised to exploit the industrial park for 50 years.

The construction of the industrial park will cost about 300 million USD and is expected to be complete after five years.

The project is a result of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong’s State visit to Cuba in March, 2018.

It is the first fixed-term operation and maintenance project Cuba has granted to a fully foreign-owned company in the ZEDM.

In 2016, Viglacera entered into a joint venture partnership with Cuban developer Geicon to manufacture building materials in Cuba, of which, Viglacera is responsible for upgrading two existing ceramics and sanitary ware plants and investing in two more, four years after the joint venture is operational. –VNA