General Secretary and President To Lam visited the Mariel Special Development Zone. Photo: VOV

The special zone, established in November 2013 in Mariel port, Artemisa province,hosts businesses from 21 countries, including Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Vietnam. Vietnam has the second largest number of projects in the ZEDM, including the ViMariel Industrial Park, the first economic zone in Cubabuiltby Vietnamese enterprises.

Mr. Lam praised the ZEDM as a promising economic model, noting its potential to test innovative policies before scaling them up nationwide. He said he believes this approach will generate stronger momentum for Cuba's economy, and pledged that the Vietnamese Party, State and investors will continue to contribute to Cuba’s national development.

On this occasion, the leaders of Vietnam and Cuba witnessed the granting of investment licenses to two Vietnamese enterprises, the Thai Binh Global Investment Joint Stock Company and the ATG Fertilizer Company.

In Havana, Mr. Lam and his wife met the Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cuba. Vietnam greatly values itstraditional solidarity and special friendship with Cuba, the top leader said, and expressed his hope that Vietnamese people around the world will contribute to strengtheningthe Vietnam-Cuba friendship.