In a bid to establish a direct service and increase trade with Cuba, the Virginia Port Authority has signed a cooperation agreement with Cuba, which will be a first for a US port operator, according to Reuters.
Terry McAuliffe, Governor of Virginia, said: “We are going to sign an agreement tomorrow between the Port of Mariel and our Port of Virginia which will be a strategic alliance.”
Thomas Capozzi, Chief Sales Officer for the Port of Virginia, said: “As Cuba and the US normalise relationships, we'd like to see the Cuban companies establish Virginia as their distribution point for the United States.”
It was previously reported that historic hostility between the US and Cuba was beginning to thaw, with suggestions that this could improve the relationship between the two countries and help Cuba’s Mariel Port expand at a much faster rate.
