CubaPLUS Magazine

The XX edition of ExpoCaribe 2025 successfully concluded this Friday in Santiago de Cuba. According to the organizers, the event was strengthened by valuable projects for the regional economy and demonstrated its commitment to promoting Cuban identity within the Caribbean context.

During the closing ceremony, Madelaine Cortés, Director of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment in Santiago de Cuba, expressed her gratitude to the nearly 8,000 participants—exhibitors, entrepreneurs, and professionals—whose presence made this edition possible. She particularly acknowledged those who continue to persevere despite the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, in support of the noble people of this Caribbean island.

Manuel Falcón, the city governor, noted that the organization of 219 bilateral meetings highlighted ExpoCaribe as a well-established business forum, where the number of participants reflected foreign investors' confidence in the talent and innovative capacity of Cuban entrepreneurs.

Falcón also invited attendees to participate in the XXI edition of ExpoCaribe, scheduled for June next year, which will pay tribute to the legacy of Fidel Castro, the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, on the centenary of his birth.

During the closing day of ExpoCaribe 2025, awards were presented to participants in various categories. The grand prize for technological innovation went to Tierra Cuba, a product by BioCubaCafe S.A., recognized for its smooth sensory profile balanced with almond and white chocolate notes. Tropical Chemato from Mixta Tropical Contramaestre S.A. also received this recognition for being unique in Cuba with competitive advantages due to its formulation containing natural ingredients that enhance flavor and provide a balanced nutritional profile with low calorie and fat content.

In the product and service category, awards were given to the pneumatic paper compactor from Lázaro Peña Cigar Factory in Holguín and GeoCuba Oriente Sur, respectively. The Habanero chili from Frutas Selectas Agricultural Products Trading Company; Malta Guajira from Cervecería Cubana S.A.; and Café Verde from Asdrúbal López Vázquez Coffee Processing Company were awarded for quality. In the communication category, first place went to the Ministry of Tourism, second to the Cuban-Slovak joint venture Proxcor S.A., and third to Cuban Medical Services S.A. and Valle Rojo. Additionally, four other exhibiting companies received honorable mentions.

The closing ceremony also featured awards for visual communication design, industrial design, stand design, modular stand design, Made in Cuba awards, and those from the Organizing Committee, as well as awards for the light industry.

Regarded as the second most important trade fair in Cuba, ExpoCaribe 2025 proved to be a significant event for entrepreneurs and professionals in Caribbean commerce. In addition to being a space for exchange and product presentation, it contributed to strengthening economic ties among countries in the region.