Google executives and representatives from other business sectors travelled to Cuba as part of a delegation led by the Americas Society and Council of the Americas.
Like most of the Americans who have visited the island following the December 17 announcements that Cuba and the United States would hold talks to re-establish diplomatic relations, the members of this delegation wanted to experience Cuban reality by themselves, talk to different kinds of people, and come to their own conclusions about possible post-embargo business and cooperation opportunities.
The group included about a dozen business representatives from sectors such as food and drinks, mobile infrastructure, insurance, and international business law. During their stay, they met with government officials, entrepreneurs, co-op members, journalists, economists, artists and diplomats.
Google’s Brett Perlmutter (Google Ideas) and Breanna Zwart (Google Access & Energy) were among the visitors.
Although this is not the first time Google executives visit the country, a recently leaked government document that revealed a national plan to provide Internet access to no less than 50{bb302c39ef77509544c7d3ea992cb94710211e0fa5985a4a3940706d9b0380de} of homes by 2020 has people wondering if there could be a possible connection here.
According to a senior State Department official quoted by several media outlets, Google has already made a proposal to the Cuban government. “We don’t know what they’ve proposed, but we do know they’ve proposed something,” the official said.
In a visit the group paid to the OnCuba news bureau in Havana, the executives declined to comment on the topic.
Perlmutter opined that one of Cuba’s options to catch up its Internet penetration backwardness was to leapfrog wired networks, like some African countries are doing.
Authors
OnCuba Staff,
OnCuba editorial staff
I visit Cuba from 1996, I know well about all island, they need everythings ,but I think it will take years,the change may be not so quickly, but a good communication in Internet is essential.
I’m italian and I need traslocate there permanently, available for cooperation,job, ecc, please to let me know, thank you and best regards Claudio.
Cladudio,
we live near ft lauderdale and have business opportunities in Cuba. Where are you located ?
I live in Colorado and want to know if there is a way to buy a run down house in Cuba and remodel it for retirement! I have thought for years that Cuba would be good to retire to!