First Business Guide for private and state actors available in Cuba

For the first time in Cuba, more than 300,000 businesses, fundamental activities or services of the country are grouped in an online directory of economic actors, in the Cuban Business and Services Guide.

The Guide is the result of an alliance between the National Association of Economists and Accountants of Cuba (ANEC), Dofleini S.R.L. and the Yellow Pages of the Telecommunications Company (Etecsa), and is an easy-access platform that facilitates communication and productive linkages between state enterprises, MSMEs, cooperatives, self-employed workers and local development projects.

According to Otto Batista, head of the commercial area at Dofleini S.R.L., the Guide arises “from the need to seek accurate information in the environment in which Cuba finds itself today, where new economic actors emerge daily,” and he assures that it is an important instrument for potential foreign investors.

“It is not only for people to know who the new economic actors are in Cuba, but also for potential foreign investors to obtain information on whether the person who is contacting them is a real business and what their results are, and all this can be found in the guide.”

Every time new economic actors are approved in the country, the Guide is updated. It not only contains information on new businesses from public records, but the owner of the business or enterprise can enter the site and provide other information about it, either as images or text, the location on a map, and other elements to learn about a particular sector or enterprise.

“I like to say that it is the first free website that a Cuban enterprise can use today, and it is very useful for everyone,” says Otto.

On the other hand, Javier Arza, operations director of Dofleini S.R.L., says that the guide “allows you to make job offers available to the public,” and that this represents another very important added value of this platform.

This directory also specializes in the access and free promotion of job offers, with an easy and quick search engine to know what kind of job opportunities are available.

In the short, medium and long term, other services will be added, such as online advertising, online marketing, the possibility of e-commerce through an online store in the directory, among others.

“It opens up a new possibility and I think that the most important thing now is to make it known, that businesses or enterprises can access the guide, edit their profile and add information so that they become known. To the extent that individuas or businesses add to the guide with their own information, it will be more useful for everyone,” says Javier.

In this sense, it will be possible to have access to the products and services of those who operate in a locality, or in any part of the archipelago, from Cape Antonio to Punta de Maisí, which allows to study the market before starting a new venture.

“We want it to be a space that provides the business community with a useful tool to work and interact among themselves, and undoubtedly, it will contribute to make the value that enterprises offer today in Cuba, or that we offer today to potential foreign investors, much more effective, that is the idea behind its constant evolution,” says Javier.

Those who have any doubts or suggestions can contact the team at 146th Street, no. 1104, between 11th and 17D streets, Reparto Cubanacán, Playa, Havana, or call (+53) 7-208 4329 / 28 / 27. The guide can also be accessed at guianegocios@pamarilla.cu.