At Miami chamber goals conference, Cuba is the word

At Miami chamber goals conference, Cuba is the word
MOLLY DUFFY
mduffy@miamiherald.com

Business opportunities resulting from the thaw with Cuba were on the
agenda during the second day of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce's
annual goals conference Friday.

"I think Cuba will one day turn out to be something absolutely
spectacular," said Pedro Freyre, chair of Akerman's International
Practice. "Cuba is Miami's to lose. We are the natural link, with all do
respect to our cousins in Tampa. We are the logical connection to Cuba."

Freyre and other panelists at the conference panel said Miami needs to
take advantage of its proximity to Cuba as the country opens for new
business opportunities. Kai Peter Schoenhals Garcia, a director at asset
management firm VICINI, said doing business in Cuba will take time and
will present a number of obstacles, but Miami businesses should explore
their options now.

"Don't go all-in in Cuba," Garcia said. "But you've got to put some
chips in in order to be invited to the game."

As for human rights issues, panelists said business cannot wait for
political change in Cuba.

"It will take a while for Cuba to become the Cuba that we want," Freyre
said.

Held at the Miami Hilton Downtown, the conference ended Friday
afternoon. Approximately 1,000 people attended over the two days.

Capping the event was the chamber's annual Good to Great awards, given
to transformational companies. This year's winners: Metro 1 (1-50
employees); Modernizing Medicine (51-249 employees); The Related Group
(250-999 employees) and Scribe America (1000+ employees.)

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