July 17, 2019 –
You might recall President Obama loosened business restrictions with Cuba, opened travel, re-established diplomatic relations with Cuba, and gave a legal path for illegal immigrants.
But the policies have gone up in smoke like a Cuban cigar. They’ve been rolled back by the Trump Administration. So don’t get excited about business prospects with Cuba.
So, no cigar.
President Trump’s policies have been economically squeezing Cuba in efforts to coerce it to reform its totalitarian government and to put a halt to its support to the Venezuelan dictatorship of President Nicolas Maduro.
For instance, the U.S. has banned trade, cruise ships, private planes and yachts from going to Cuba. It also halted the exemption of educational category of travel.
As a result, Cuba’s Tourism Manager Manuel Marrero said Cuba has suffered a 20-percent decline in tourism. Until the ban, Americans were second only to Canadians as tourists in Cuba.
The Trump Administration also allows U.S. lawsuits against foreign companies for “trafficking” in properties that Fidel Castro seized in its 1959 revolution.
This has impacted travel agency Expedia and several hotel operators.
President Trump also demanded that Cuba cooperate with extraditions of people wanted for crimes in America.
Even if the Trump Administration reversed course, doing business in Cuba would not be a panacea for American business ventures.
More than five decades ago, Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state after the U.S. embargoed most exports to his country.
A year later, President John F. Kennedy was embroiled in the Cuban missile crisis.
It’s still the same Cuba. In fact, there’s a new twist: A war on women.
There have been other worrisome published reports. Business certainty in Cuba is uncertain – a nightmare – definitely an obstacle to success.
Why?
Cuba has troublesome business and foreign investment laws:
1. Cuba will own your company
Yes, Cuba will take a 51-49 percent ownership. It can even be a higher percentage in Havana.
2. Cuba will likely saddle you with their selections for managers
Cuba won’t like your preferred team, especially if it’s comprised of Cuban exiles.
This means Cubans will control your management decisions and any dealings with the government.
3. Cuba will hire your workers
You’ll be subjected to Cuba’s hiring practices. History shows it’ll be based on cronyism. Hiring will not be based on merit or skills.
4. You will have questionable proprietary intelligence or information
Cuba controls all intelligence with its Dirección de Inteligencia, or under the direction of intelligence. You’ll struggle to protect your proprietary data. Doesn’t appear to be an intelligent move to me.
5. You’ll be subject to phony vendors
With Cuba’s relationships with China, Iran, Russia and North Korea, you’ll probably be forced to have vendors from those countries. So your confidential information will be up for grabs.
Business certainty in Cuba is uncertain – a nightmare – definitely an obstacle to success.
6. Finances are dubious
Cuba has a history of unreliability in finances. The country’s credit rating is bad and its track record in making payments is also poor. Birds of a feather flock together. So with China, Iran, Russia and North Korea in the mix, you won’t have stability in capital or contracts.
The only possible silver lining is that you’d gain favor with those countries.
7. The Castro regime has stolen all property
You’ll be dealing with property stolen from others. Should the government be ever overthrown – even in favor of a democracy – the new democratic government might conceivably cancel your agreement and your property would likely be returned to the original owners.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it might not be an impossible dream to succeed in Cuba, but it’s close. Beware of the red flags.
From the Coach’s Corner, here are more global business tips:
Take Your Business Globally with These 12 Tips — If you want to export your products to the international marketplace, keep in mind and implement 12 steps. They include: 1. Begin on a small scale in an English-speaking country. Unless you speak other languages fluently, begin in a nation where English is spoken. Identify the country where your product will be in demand.
Expanding Globally? Why Singapore Might Be A Good Bet— Singapore continues as a bastion of success as 43 percent of companies doing business there forecast continued growth financially and strategically until at least 2017, according to a Telstra Global Report in 2014.
11 Travel Tips – Save Money, Prevent against Cyber Theft, Fraud – The most vulnerable travelers are businesspeople. That’s because they have to use Internet and e-mail. They’re in danger expressly from vulnerabilities, such as from wirelessly accessible passports to using WIFI. To save you from aggravation and money losses, here are 11 quick tips.
“Cuba ought to be free and independent, and the government should be turned over to the Cuban people.”
-William McKinley
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