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Businesses eye opportunities in Cuba as airline service starts

Vintage taxis are a popular draw in Havana, but they are not trouble free, and it is a common site to see repair work taking place on the side of the road. Delta launched its first scheduled airline flights to Cuba on Dec. 1, a key milestone in the U.S. opening to Cuba. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Vintage taxis are a popular draw in Havana, but they are not trouble free, and it is a common site to see repair work taking place on the side of the road. Delta launched its first scheduled airline flights to Cuba on Dec. 1, a key milestone in the U.S. opening to Cuba. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By
Dec 12, 2016

HAVANA, Cuba — This is alluring, unexplored territory for many travelers — and for Georgia businesses that have been eyeing potential opportunities in the nation of 11 million people.

They range from Coca-Cola and UPS to credit card processors and chicken farmers. The recent start of scheduled U.S.-Cuba airline flights will make it easier for such companies to scout out prospects and take initial steps.

Yet challenges and uncertainty remain, chief among them what will happen to the measured moves to liberalize relations between the United States and Cuba engineered by the outgoing Obama administration.

Read more about what Coke, UPS, Home Depot, First Data, InterContinental Hotels Group and others are saying about the opportunities in Cuba -- get the full story on MyAJC.com.

About the Author

As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.

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