CFC visits Ambassador of Cuba to strengthen cooperation
The Hague, 27 August 2025 – Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Ms. Eva Velina Silva Walker, Alternate Governor of the CFC for Cuba and Ambassador of Cuba to the Netherlands, to exchange views on strengthening cooperation and expanding opportunities for commodity-based development.
Ambassador Belal expressed his deep appreciation for Cuba’s consistent solidarity and active engagement in the work of the Fund. He briefed Ambassador Silva Walker on the Humanizing Value Chains (HVC) initiative, which addresses the persistent issue of low farmer incomes and unequal distribution of value across commodity chains, and the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund, designed to mobilize development financing for high-impact projects in commodity sectors.
Ambassador Belal noted that Cuba could play an important role in bringing more projects to the CFC, ensuring that local producers and cooperatives can benefit from inclusive financing, improved value addition, and sustainable livelihoods. He underlined the opportunity for Cuba to leverage CFC’s global platform to showcase innovative models that combine social impact with resilience in commodity development.
Ambassador Silva Walker warmly welcomed these initiatives and reaffirmed Cuba’s strong commitment to the CFC’s mission. She emphasized her government’s willingness to support efforts that bring more tangible projects into the Fund’s portfolio, particularly those that can uplift smallholder farmers and foster equitable development.
Both sides also acknowledged that the burden of sanctions often deprives smallholders of their rightful income, and expressed their shared hope for a return to normalcy in Cuba and everywhere. In line with the broader calls of the United Nations, they underlined that farmers and producers, regardless of geography, should never be denied the opportunity to benefit fairly from their labour and contribute to equitable development.
For media inquiries, please contact:
[CFC Media Relations Team]
[Email: managing.director@common-fund.org]
[Phone: +31 20 575 4949]