The Cuban Chamber of Commerce has opened an office in Troy that will become the organization’s headquarters in an effort to open a new international market to Michigan companies.
“…Our desire at the Cuban Chamber of Commerce is for Michigan to be the lead exporter into Cuba, and through the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, we can help those Michigan companies navigate through the complex Cuban market,” says Dana McAllister, the executive director of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce.
The office, 900 Wilshire Dr., marks the chamber’s third office in the U.S., along with locations in Miami and Washington, D.C. McAllister says the chamber has a bilingual staff and will hold programs and seminars to help Michigan companies identify buyers and customers in Cuba. It will also plan export trade missions to the country.
The latest U.S Census data says there are more than 240 Cuban-born residents in Oakland County, and more than 9,800 Michigan residents who claim Cuban ancestry. In December, the United States and Cuba announced they would normalize relations and re-open trade.
“The Cuban market offers a wonderful opportunity for Oakland County companies to sell their goods and services,” says L. Brooks Patterson, county executive. “The competition for this previously unavailable and untapped market will be fierce.”
For the chamber’s first event, it has partnered with Automation Alley for a breakfast seminar on Aug. 6 about doing business in Cuba. They say entrepreneurs and small-to-medium-size businesses will benefit from the seminar.
