United States authorized the first factory in Cuba in more than half a century – BBC

Image copyright Getty

Image caption The US company expects to employ about 30 Cubans in its first phase of operations .

A US company said Monday it received approval from the Treasury Department to open a factory in Cuba, the first in over half a century .

the company, Cleber LLC seeks to begin manufacturing tractors inexpensive specifically tailored to the needs of the Cuban farmer from a prototype designed following the reopening of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the US

it is estimated that the factory be built in the Special Area Development Mariel province , 40 kilometers from Havana, according to a company statement. This area is part of a project of the Cuban government to attract foreign investment.

The company is owned by Horace Clemmons Berenthal Saul, born in Cuba, engineers who previously worked on IBM technology and never as told the daily the Washington Post , they had built tractors.

Yoruba tractor

the tractor with which Clemmons Berenthal and caught the attention of the Cuban authorities intended to “symbolize” the meeting between the two nations.

He was named “Oggún” one of the most ancient deities of Yoruba religion -very followed in Cuba representing the spirit of the minerals, such as metal that is built on tractor.

Image copyright Courtesy Cleber LLC

Image caption the “Oggún” tractor was specifically created to meet the new needs of the Cuban farmer after the reopening of relations between USA and Cuba.

The technology, however, was developed in the United States under the criteria of sustainability and renewable energy use.

“It is designed to supplement practices organopónicas growing Cuban peasant. These are internationally coveted for its quality and safety. Oggún is created to support these methods, “the website of the company.

the price each unit will range between US $ 8,000 and US $ 10,000 and expect the Cuban peasant become the main customer.

“small factories will need a low-cost tractor can be repaired in Local garage, “said Horace Clemmons in an interview with the Associated Press.

Embargo

in December 2014, the presidents Raul Castro and Barack Obama they announced the start of a melting process that led to the repertura of embassies and a progressive approach.

President Obama has asked unsuccessfully for Congress to lift the economic embargo on the island since 1962 .

Meanwhile, it has been adopting measures to make it easier for American companies to do business in Cuba, although they are subject to numerous restrictions.

Image copyright AP

Image caption The Cuban-born businessman Saul Berenthal he worked as an engineer in the company of IBM technology and is the first time designing a tractor.

The draft Clemmons manufacturing and Berenthal seeks to exploit it If allowed US export agricultural machinery, provided that the end users of these products are farmers and non-governmental private cooperatives.

So far, the Special Area Development Mariel are operating eight foreign companies , but Mexican, Spanish and Brazilian origin.

Cleber LLC expected to be officially approved by the Cuban government next March.