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Page 8, Whitby Fee Press,, Wednesciay, Septomber 28,1994 ELEANOR SEVIDAL, customer serivce representative for Consumers Gas in Whitby, gets some help from daug hter Susan (photo. at left)* as the company invited daughters and sonls 0f employees to be job shadows'for a day. Consumers 'also recently provided a barbecue lunch at the Whitby Seniors', A ctivity Centre. In photo at-right,, Richard Flint (Ieft) and -Robert Ballard check their draw tickets during lunch -- Ballard won.top prize, a set of steak knives. Photos by Mark Reesor and Jeremy Dresar, Whttby Free Press. Cuban chanimber president wants to do busin'es By John Dijay To most countries, the loss of the Soviet Union Wes a blessing. For Cuba, it was a curse. Speaking at Heydenshore Pavilion Friday,- Cuban chaniber - of commerce president. Carlos Salsamendi told the Durham Region Manufacturing Association- that the challenge for Ise country is ta rebuild after.losing billions of dollars annually in subsidies. "Suddently the socialist government disappeared," he said, describing how moet Cubans felt at the bass of their benefactor in 1989. That is why he was in Whiùtby, he said. Our challenge is té adapt," said Salsamnendi, who wants to have more contact with chambers of commerce in various cominunities in Canada, which is» one of Cubd's top five trading partners. Last year, Cuba bought $134 million- worth of goods and services from Canada. 1"We decided ta corne ta Canada CÂRLOS SALSAMENDI prsdetof the Cuban Chmeof Commerce and senior officiai wlth the Cuban governnlent, discussed his country's economy and trade and business opportunities at a meeting of the Durham Reglon Manufacturers Association ln Whitby on Sept. 23. Photo by Maurlos Pither. Whltby Fr. Press te- make contacts with chambers of commerce in order to help do more business in Canada," said Salsamendi, also a senior officiai with the Cuban government. Cuba will begin opening the econ omy more to foreign exporta, he said. Hie said the major export items include sugar, nickel, seafood and citrus fruit. Technological information is one of the main items his country needs to grow. 'We have to train our businesses to do business, in a new bailganie." Tourism is the main trade that fies Canada and Cuba together. -Tourism is going to be 'a front-runner in foreign market earning," 'he said, adding that Cuba is one of Canadians' favourite travel destinations. The low rate of the Cuban peso was mentioned, and Salsamendi replied that although it is down at the 'present- time, more Joint ventures with foreign countries wiII help. "W'e have ta -put back the economy on track so the peso will be worth somnething." Human rights vilations were also mentioned. "That's fot happening in Cuba," he stated flatfl.Canadian businesses already doing business in Cuba know "that nobody is beaten on the. streets," he said. Twenty-f'ive local boards will be established in Ontario, includ- ing one in Durham Region, to, direct $60 million in federal and provincial training funds1 each year. A meeting of local labour mar- ket partners wilI be held in Whitby (exact location and time not y et announced) on Nov. 24 for the Durham Région board. Boards will collect and distri- butelabour market information, analyze the. effectiveness of pro- grams and services, - provde advice te the sponsors, develop Tax rates ake very favoura6le to Cuban buslin4sses, and private citizens.,"W.e.-pay practicall y no taxes," he said. In the end,'Sa]samendi's message was' simple: "Corne down, see for yourselves." plans to address local' labour market needs and purchase training services.' Sponsors are Human Resources Development Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Educa- ion and Training, The Canadian Labour -Force Developmenit Board and the Ontario Training and Adjustment Board. Local board members will lie nominated by the groups they represent - business, labour, women, racial, minorities, per- sons with disabilities, franco- phones,- educators and trainers. i Education Pays Corne mn for a complimentary review and leam how to secure your fmancial future. - ~ Board to beset - up to, direct training-funds