Amid the supply crisis affecting Cuba and the increasing prominence of the private sector, the company OGBESA Multiservices promotes its services from Miami as a wholesale food supplier for Cuban micro, small, and medium enterprises interested in importing products from the United States under the current legal framework.
The company operates within the mechanisms authorized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, specifically through the AGR License Exception, which allows for the commercial export of agricultural and food products classified as EAR99 to authorized entities on the island.
As a wholesale supplier, OGBESA Multiservices aims to capture the interest of:
- Gastronomic micro, small, and medium enterprises
- Private importers
- Food processing companies
- Projects related to tourism and hospitality
In a setting characterized by blackouts, inflation, and chronic shortages, stable access to external suppliers has become a strategic necessity for many private businesses trying to sustain operations on the island.
Wide range of products
According to the commercial documentation related to this type of operation, the AGR exception allows for the export of a wide range of food products, including:
- Beef, pork, chicken, and turkey
- Cold cuts and processed products
- Dairy products such as powdered milk, evaporated milk, condensed milk, cheeses, and yogurt
- Rice, flour, pasta, and cereals
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Vegetable oils
- Frozen products
- Sweets, snacks, and chocolates
- Supplies for the food industry
This regulatory framework establishes that operations must be conducted under commercial contracts signed prior to shipment and within specific timelines authorized by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
Operations under regulatory compliance
Exports under the AGR exception do not imply the lifting of the U.S. embargo; rather, they constitute a specific mechanism for the commercial sale of agricultural products. Transactions must also comply with the regulations of the Department of the Treasury (OFAC) and are not transferable to third parties outside of what is authorized.
For Cuban micro, small, and medium enterprises, this type of scheme represents a formal way to structure imports from the U.S. market, provided that the established contractual and regulatory requirements are met.
In a context where the private sector is trying to consolidate despite the structural limitations of the Cuban economy, the entry of specialized food export suppliers could influence the availability of products and the price dynamics within the domestic market.
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