Cuba to buy Russian regional jets

PressTV

Antonov An-148

“Today’s decision on An-148 supplies to Cuba opens a new market for us,” said Alexei Gordeyev, the acting governor of Voronezh Region, where airplane manufacturer Voronezh Aircraft Plant is located.
Gordeyev’s Friday announcement came after a meeting with senior Cuban officials, including scientific advisor Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart and the country’s ambassador to Russia, Emilio Lozada García, RIA Novosti reported.
According to the report, the Cuban and Russian authorities further discussed other potential areas to expand bilateral cooperation during the meeting, including in healthcare and education sectors.
Russia and Cuba have enjoyed close ties since the days of the former Soviet Union. In recent years, Russia has moved to further expand its relations with Cuba.
In December 2013, Moscow wrote off most of Havana’s Soviet-era debt, estimated at about $30 billion, and denounced the American trade embargo against the Caribbean country.
Russia’s Voronezh Aircraft firm is one of the largest manufacturers of passenger and cargo aircraft in Russia. The company specializes in the production of the Il-96 wide-body long-haul passenger airliners and the An-148 regional jet.
The company reported a profit of 10 billion rubles ($280 million) in December 2013, including earnings from Il-96 sales that reached 5 billion rubles ($140 million), and An-148 sales at around 3.2 billion rubles ($90 million).