How Entrepreneurs Will Eventually Breathe Freedom Into Cuba

How Entrepreneurs Will Eventually Breathe Freedom Into Cuba
Fri, Feb 13, 2015, 6:25AM EST

For more than 50 years, strained US relations with Cuba have affected
the way we do -- or, more to the point don't do - business. With
President Obama strengthening our diplomatic ties and hoping to lift the
trade embargo entirely, the Cuba/US economic relationship will
drastically change and affect more than just macroeconomics in the
coming years.

Cuba has long been ripe with opportunity for entrepreneurs, without a
lot of freedom to take advantage of that situation. The Cuban government
has stated that the absence of trade with the United States over the
last five decades has amounted to more than $100 billion. Even without
the US embargo, socialist policies from the Cuban government have
stunted entrepreneurial growth. Since 2006, Castro has lifted some of
these restrictions, allowing limited business licenses. Unfortunately,
in a country where the average salary is around $20 per month, the
population has never been able to sustain small businesses.

With the possibility of more US influence in politics and economics,
Cuba is on the edge of a revolution, of sorts. If the trade embargo is
lifted, Cubans can export their products not just to the United States,
but also to many other countries that don't do business with Cuba based
on agreements with the US. This opens up, literally, a world of
opportunity for would-be entrepreneurs on the small island nation.

That's not all. American business owners would then be able to export
their products into Cuba, a market ready for new ideas and inexpensive
luxuries that could change the way Cubans live. With our potential new
trade partner only 90 miles away, shipping is not prohibitive even for
small businesses. In 2012, the estimated Cuban GDP was $121 billion –
small individual incomes, but not an insignificant starting point for
the right kind of import.

Let's be real: the Cuban market isn't going to blossom overnight, not
with 90 percent of their economy controlled by the state, and foreign
investment laws that only offer a glimmer of openness. Raul Castro has
made it clear in no uncertain terms that communism is still the rule in
the island nation. But obviously, many businesses are taking a second
look at Cuba now that it's not forbidden.

For marketers, this means learning more about the captive audience on
Cuba, which might not be exactly what you'd expect. Cuba has one of the
most literate populaces in the world. Their current top export is their
highly-trained professionals and athletes. Cuba is actually famous for
the quality of its healthcare workers. More than 2 million Cubans
already live here in America, and have particularly made an impact in
Florida with their culture.

It also means that the Cuban tourist trade might be a smart investment.
For 55 years, the average American has not been allowed to take
advantage of more than 400 beaches, including the world-famous Veradero
Beach. Of course, Congress has not yet approved tourism travel to Cuba,
but even without casual travel to Cuba, Cuban-Americans can now visit
home and are likely to make the journey regularly.

With so much potential, it is only a matter of time before entrepreneurs
here in the United States find ways of taking advantage of the new
market nearby. Let's not count out the Cubans, who theoretically will
now have a much easier time immigrating to the United States. We have
always been a nation of opportunity, and immigrant entrepreneurs have
impacted our economy in massive ways. They have founded companies
including Google, Intel and Yahoo, along with major fashion industries
and real estate conglomerates. Possibly, hopefully, the next big idea
may come from our new Southern partner as relations open, policies relax
and economies begin to mingle.

Source: How Entrepreneurs Will Eventually Breathe Freedom Into Cuba -
Yahoo Finance -
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