Iran’s Islamic regime has engaged in discussions with Cuba’s communist Castro regime to revamp 160 deteriorating sugarcane factories in Cuba, according to the Iranian state-run Tasmin News Agency.
Cuba, once a major sugar exporter, has witnessed a drastic decline in its sugar production, with only roughly two dozen sugar mills still in operation out of over a hundred on the island.
The announcement of the deal was made during the Iran-Cuba Business Forum in Tehran, where the CEO of Iranian Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization revealed that feasibility studies had commenced in the Cuban market.
Following the Havana International Fair in November 2023, Cuban delegations visited Iran to discuss the renovation and optimization of 160 sugarcane facilities in Cuba.
Cuba’s sugarcane industry has been on a downward spiral under Castro’s rule, with the nationalization of the industry in 1960 leading to disruptions in production. Despite promises to boost sugar yield, Cuba’s industry has struggled to meet its targets.
In recent years, Cuba has even resorted to importing sugar from the United States due to internal demand surpassing domestic production capabilities.
With the sugarcane industry in a state of crisis, Iran’s initiative to revive Cuba’s factories is part of a broader trend of potential cooperation agreements between the two regimes, including projects related to shipbuilding, digital cooperation, and transportation ties.
Overall, the partnership between Iran and Cuba signifies a mutual effort to strengthen economic ties and support each other’s industries.
