In the meeting, he was asked about the possibility of business opportunities with Castro by Cuban-Americans or other Cubans abroad.
Bruno's response is a keeper:
"I don't know how many Cuban you know who can invest $200 million, $300 million or $500 million, which is the investment that Cuba now demands. In other words, economic development in today's Cuba doesn't require and investment of $100 thousand, $200 thousand or $300 thousand. Actually, there's a a natural process of market mechanisms that has reduced the presence of foreign partners in Cuba, most of which arrived during the difficult years of the 'Special Period'. Part of them were 'chinchaleros' ('small-timers'); others were intermediaries; others couldn't fulfill their contracts to produce in Cuba, not only for the Cuban market, but for export. Therefore, those businesses have been liquidated and more efficient companies have arrived. A legal basis exists today for Cuban emigrants to invest. I know it is very difficult; I know it doesn't fit within our policies and one of the principle reasons is what I have previously mentioned: Cuba is looking for investments of a magnitude that is generally out of the reach of emigrants."
In other words, the Castro brothers are only interested in the big-time hustle for their totalitarian mafia.
Courtesy of Emilio Echikawa.
