Cuban Minister of Construction, H.E René Mesa Antonio Villafaña, visits CONINCO

On the afternoon of July 25, 2024, the Consultant and Inspection Joint Stock Company of construction technology and equipment (CONINCO., Jsc) welcomed a delegation from the Cuban Ministry of Construction, led by Minister René Mesa Antonio Villafaña, to their headquarters at CONINCO Tower.

The Cuban delegation included Ms. Irmina Perojo Bellido de Luna, Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam; Mr. Ariel Ruedas Ortiz, Chairman of DINVAI Construcciones S.A; Mr. Reynolds Ramirez, Chairman of GEICON Building Materials Industrial Group; Mr. Benederto Travieso Gomez, Chairman of OSDE GEICON Construction Business Group; and Mr. Walter Fernandez, Chief of Office to the Minister. 

Representing Vietnam's Ministry of Construction was Ms. Pham Thi Hong My, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation.

CONINCO's leadership warmly welcomed the delegation, including Mr. Phan Ngoc Cuong, Member of the Board of Directors and General Director of CONINCO; Mr. Nguyen Manh Tuan, Member of the Board of Directors and Deputy General Director; along with other members of the Board of Management, the Party Secretary, the President of the Trade Union, and representatives from various management departments.

Mr. Cuong expressed his delight to welcome Minister Villafaña and the delegation to CONINCO, providing an overview of the company's achievements in 2023 and the first half of 2024. He highlighted CONINCO's involvement in key national projects, including Long Thanh International Airport and the North-South Expressway system. Mr. Cuong reported a contract value of nearly 1 trillion VND (approximately 42 million USD) and consulting revenue of 500 billion VND (approximately 21 million USD). He also mentioned the recent celebration of CONINCO's 45th anniversary, attended by representatives from DINVAI and other valued partners.

Mr. Cuong emphasized the strong and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba in various sectors, including politics, economics, trade, science, and technology. Both nations are eager to expand this partnership and explore new avenues for collaboration. Strengthening economic and trade cooperation across multiple fields is a core component of the bilateral development strategy of both Vietnam and Cuba.

In discussing the existing partnership between CONINCO and DINVAI, Mr. Cuong highlighted their first collaborative project: consulting and supervising the infrastructure development of the Thuan Thanh I Industrial Park in Bac Ninh province. This project is led by Viglacera Corporation - Joint Stock Company. CONINCO is pleased with DINVAI's recent achievement of a Class 2 construction operation certificate in Vietnam, marking a significant step for the company's growth in the Vietnamese market. This achievement paves the way for expanded collaboration between CONINCO and DINVAI. Both companies are actively pursuing new projects and opportunities to leverage their combined strengths and expertise.

Minister Villafaña expressed his sincere condolences to the Party, State, the Construction industry, and the people of Vietnam on the recent passing of Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He conveyed that the Party, State, and people of Cuba hold deep respect for the late General Secretary, considering him a true friend and comrade.

Minister Villafaña thanked CONINCO for its support of DINVAI Vietnam, acknowledging their role in helping DINVAI successfully participate in projects within Vietnam. This support has been crucial in DINVAI's recent upgrade to a Class 2 construction operation certificate, expanding their capabilities in civil construction and positioning them to take on projects in infrastructure and transportation. This opens up significant opportunities for DINVAI in Vietnam and the wider region.

The Minister highly commended CONINCO's business development model, recognizing the company as a prestigious construction consulting firm in Vietnam. This recognition stems from the significant achievements CONINCO has attained over the past 45 years. The Minister extended congratulations to CONINCO, expressing confidence in the company's ability to leverage its strengths and continue its growth trajectory for another 45 years and beyond.

Addressing a network of over 7,000 engineers and architects within the construction industry, the Minister shared DINVAI's readiness to supply highly skilled human resources. DINVAI, the Minister added, is eager to collaborate with CONINCO, pursuing joint ventures not only in Vietnam and Cuba but also exploring opportunities in Southeast Asia and Latin America.
Furthermore, the Minister pledged DINVAI Vietnam's commitment to successfully fulfilling its obligations in ongoing collaborations with CONINCO. The Minister expressed hope for a continued and comprehensive alliance between the two entities, maximizing their combined strengths to deliver exceptional services.

General Director Phan Ngoc Cuong expressed his gratitude for the Minister's insights and perspectives on potential collaborations between CONINCO and DINVAI within the infrastructure and transportation sectors. Mr. Cuong expressed his hope that the Minister would advocate for initiatives that facilitate cooperations between the two companies. Such support, he added, would enable CONINCO and DINVAI to collaborate on promising projects, fully leveraging their combined expertise in the near future.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Cuong expressed his gratitude, on behalf of CONINCO's employees, for the trust, cooperation, and support from the Ministries of Construction of both Vietnam and Cuba, and the Cuban Embassy in Vietnam. He emphasized that this spirit of partnership, shared experience, and governmental support will be instrumental in ensuring the success of future collaborations between CONINCO, DINVAI, and other Cuban businesses, ultimately contributing to economic growth and development. Mr. Cuong wished Minister Villafaña and the delegation a fruitful visit and continued success in their endeavors in Vietnam, Cuba, and the region.