Minister Pastor and Minister Yzquierdo sign first agreement on transport between Spain and Cuba

The agreement strengthens relations between the two countries on this issue and takes steps along different lines of cooperation in order to construct transport infrastructures and train the necessary professionals required for the management of different means of transport.

The acting minister shared the importance of continuing to invest in infrastructures and transport efficiency with her Cuban counterpart in order to tackle the increasing and continuous arrival of tourists to different destinations in Cuba, as well as to foster the mobility of Cuban nationals.

In this regard, Ana Pastor offered Spain's experience in planning, financing, construction and the operation of infrastructures based on the development of a transport and infrastructure system that has led to Spain enjoying modern infrastructures in line with the current demands from people and companies.

The minister also recalled that the Spanish airport operator - AENA - has extensive experience in the operation of all types of airports and in harnessing network synergies, knowledge and guidance for tourism; it has invested more than 18 billion euros in airport infrastructures and successfully executed a transformation and optimisation plan for management that is unique in the airport sector.

Transport Infrastructure Plan for Cuba

On her visit to Cuba, the minister also maintained several meetings with senior officials from the Government of Cuba, including with the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas, and the Ministers for Construction, Rene Mesa, and for Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca.

Spanish hallmark around the world

All of this accumulated experience of Spanish companies in transport infrastructures is being recognised on the international stage through its participation in such emblematic projects as the second phase of the Haramain Project (high-speed line that crosses the desert in Saudi Arabia to link up Mecca with Medina); the Marmaray Project (undersea railway connection in Turkey); the extension of the Panama Canal (which will be inaugurated in the coming months); the construction of underground railway lines in Riyadh and Lima; and the first high-speed train line in California, to name but a few examples.

In 2015, the figure for the awards of international tenders in which Spanish companies participated amounted to more than 55.34 billion euros (30.56 billion euros correspond to traditional works and another 24.78 billion euros to concessions).

Furthermore, according to the figures available, in the first four months of 2016, international tenders in infrastructures in which Spanish companies took part exceeded 10 billion euros (6.44 billion euros correspond to traditional works and 3.76 billion euros to concessions).

Spanish companies have a total construction portfolio of 88 billion euros, of which some 87% are international. Today, 33% of the main transport concessions around the world are being managed by Spanish companies.