At SPIEF 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Of Russia Talks Expansion And Projects. Same Message As At 2025 SPIEF. How Did That Work Out During The Last Twelve Months?

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“Despite external pressure, Russian companies continue to expand their presence in Cuba and are ready to invest in long-term projects.  Russia can offer solutions in the areas of digital services, cybersecurity, telemedicine, and business automation... about 90 Russian companies are interested in supplying meat, dairy, and fish products.”  Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation (4 June 2026) 

According to Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshenko, exports from the Russian Federation to the Republic of Cuba increased 20% in 2025 from 2024.  Unsaid if importers in the Republic of Cuba had paid or maintained payment agreements for the products.  

Quotes from Oscar Perez-Oliva Fraga, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, of the Republic of Cuba, during the Russia-Cuba Business Dialogue at the 2025 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) the Russia-Cuba Business Dialogue:   

  • “To pay off our debts, we need to produce and develop entrepreneurship. And in this regard, we will, of course, cooperate with Russian entrepreneurs.  We are already implementing this decision and have made significant efforts to develop this area.  Therefore, please continue to trust Cuba, and we will certainly fulfill all our obligations.”  

  • “We can also cooperate in industry and transportation.  A project was recently launched where Russian cars were assembled in Cuba, and this is, of course, beneficial for both sides.”  

  • “Russia is under a ton of Western sanctions.  And we're seeing fascist, Russophobic attitudes.  Sanctions against Cuba are only getting stronger, so we're all going through tough times.”  

  • “Today is a real turning point in our relations.  In the coming months of this year, I believe many projects will be implemented, and we will prove that doing business in Cuba is entirely possible and can be very successful.” 

Link: At SPIEF’25 Russia-Cuba Dialogue, One Side Talks Dreams, Other Talks Reality. “Reliable Partner”- “Science Fiction” Or Reality? Russia Says Entrepreneurs Important. Cuba Not So Enthusiastic June 19, 2025 

Deputy Prime Minister Fraga and Ernesto Rodriguez Hernandez, First Deputy Minister of Communications of the Republic of Cuba, are participating in the 2026 SPIEF.  

A scheduled Russia-Cuba Business Dialogue disappeared from the official SPIEF schedule.   

Deputy Prime Minister Fraga is now one of seven (7) speakers during a seventy-five (75) minute Russia-Latin America Business Dialogue.   

First Deputy Minister Rodriguez is participating as one of nine speakers on the panel, Technologies Shaping the Future Turnkey Digital Sovereignty: Mutually Beneficial Prospects.  

Thus far in 2026, despite rhetoric professing the opposite, the government of the Russian Federation has remained reticent to provide consistent and meaningful commercial, economic, energy, financial, military, and political support to the government of the Republic of Cuba.