Havana, Cuba - Mexico and Cuba signed an agreement this week during the opening of a ProMexico office in Havana, Cuba, in an effort to strengthen trade relations and cooperation programs.

ProMexico is the Mexican federal agency responsible for strengthening the participation of the country in the international economy.

"This will launch the kind of commercial relations expressed by President Enrique Pena Nieto during his January visit - to allow more Mexicans to come to Cuba and more Cubans to go to Mexico. May more business arise between our two countries for the benefit of both nations," said ProMexico’s CEO, Francisco González, after signing the document with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca.

Roberto Verrier, director of the Center for the Promotion of Foreign Trade of Cuba, stated, "This cooperation agreement is very important within the framework of the new foreign investment law and the creation of the 'Special Development Zone,'" referring to the free trade zone in Mariel’s port, 50 miles west of Havana.

González led a group of 60 Mexican businessmen on Tuesday, visiting the island in search of business opportunities under the new Cuban economic reforms. The reforms, which will take effect next month, also offer tax advantages to foreign investors to help boost the island's economy.

Mexico is one of Cuba’s leading trade partners in Latin America after Venezuela and Brazil.

Translated and edited by PanAmPost.com and BanderasNews.com