Skip navigation
Watchlist Sponsored By :


Current DateTime: 02:39:02 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24355697

FEATURED QUIZZES


Current DateTime: 02:39:02 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 33793611
  • The Billionaire BFF's

      Philanthropists. Bridge partners. Hockey players. Which responses are based on facts from Buffett's and Gates' real lives?

  • The Many Myths of Coca-Cola

      Can you tell which statements are true, and which ones are just rumors?

  • Think You Understand Markets?

      We've selected some questions from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's test of investor knowledge. See how you do ...


Current DateTime: 02:39:02 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 24890560
  • Winterizing Your Portfolio

      If 2009 was the winter of our discontent, will 2010 be a winter wonderland for investors? A lot depends on the recovery—or lack thereof.

  • Investor's Guide to Real Estate

      Some even say the long-awaited recovery is here. Regardless, buyers and sellers alike can profit from our guide.

  • Alternative Investing

      Stocks and bonds? Sure. But it's a big world out there for investors.

powered by digg
Cuba Libre: American Business In Post-Castro Cuba
By: cnbc.com Staff | 07 May 2007 | 11:56 AM ET
Text Size

As the world monitors the declining health of Cuban President, Fidel Castro, talk of potential government reform and an end to a 45 year old U.S. trade sanction has many American businesses poised to take advantage of a wealth of opportunity. Although countries such as China, Venezuela, Italy, Israel and Canada already benefit from intact business relations with Cuba, American interests hope to gain from its geographical advantage.

Big City Dreams

In 1960, Nicolas Quintana was a prominent Havana architect, a member of Cuba's national planning board. When Castro came to power, Quintana left for what he thought would be a few months. He has been in exile ever since. Now, from his post at Florida International University, Quintana, 81, is developing an ambitious plan to rebuild and restore Old Havana. This is not just the nostalgic musings of an old man. It is a project funded by two homebuilders--Lennar and Century. And there are indications the Cuban authorities are not only aware of the plan, they may tacitly approve of it. What role will U.S. companies play in rebuilding Cuba, especially when other countries are already there?

Their Ship Has Come In

U.S. trade with Cuba has been embargoed for 45 years. But Crowley Shipping does business with Cuba every week, and has since 2001. Under an exception to the embargo for agricultural products, Crowley sends one ship a week between Florida and Havana. The man who captained the first U.S. vessel in more than 40 years tells us that Cuba is a ripe market for American goods. And the company--which is busily planning for post-embargo Cuba--offers lessons for others that want to follow it there.

Two Nation Vacation

Tourism is Cuba's biggest growth industry. Developers worldwide are building hotels there, and tourists are flocking there--except from the U.S. If the embargo is lifted, the U.S. tourism industry is expected to be among the first to try and capitalize. This has officials in Key West, Florida, nervous. They've been planning for the fall of Castro since 2000, bracing for a new competitor for tourist dollars just 90 miles away. They even have a marketing campaign ready to roll out.

Cuban Black Gold

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are 4.6 billion barrels of oil in Cuba, most of it undiscovered; which would put Cuba's reserves fourth in Latin America (behind Brazil).  Developing those reserves would be a potential bonanza for U.S. oil and oil services companies, were it not for the U.S. trade embargo.  But with other countries already there--and a Canadian company, Sherrit International, about to begin exporting Cuban oil--how much longer will the U.S. energy industry be willing to sit on the sidelines?

© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Tools:
Print EmailAdd This share icon
  • digg share

CNBC HIGHLIGHTS

  • Warren Buffett and Bill Gates spoke to Columbia students, and Buffett made the students a startling offer.
  • They may have wrecked their companies or saved our economy. Tell us what you think.
  • Big pharma embraces social media, but how much should a tightly regulated sector say on Facebook or Twitter?
  • A European dating site finds lovelorn singles from one country to be consistently uglier. Which is it?
  • Contributor David Pogue looks at two of the latest efforts to perfect the digital pocket camera.
  • PepsiCo is ramping up its onsite health facilities for workers.
ADD COMMENTS
Remaining characters


Current DateTime: 02:33:17 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 11:27:47 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 11:27:47 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 01:00:12 12 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
  Data is a real-time snapshot  *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
A Division of NBC Universal
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters