| Some Cuban-Americans and U.S. business owners | | | | growth in food imports to the island, which |
| have been waiting years for the possible fall | | | | has very limited supplies of beef, dairy and |
| of Communism in Cuba and the re-opening of | | | | other products. "We all know that for the |
| the island's economy. Experts say the | | | | Cuban people there's nothing there available |
| investment opportunities are almost | | | | when it comes to food. The tourists, they |
| limitless, after decades of neglect and a | | | | have everything that is available. So I think |
| U.S. embargo. Even after Fidel Castro, | | | | it's going to be a big opportunity, |
| serious legal and political obstacles may | | | | especially for the people in Cuba," he said. |
| remain in Cuba. | | | | |
| | | | While the end of the Fidel Castro regime |
| Less than 200 kilometers separate the island | | | | could open the door to outside investment, |
| of Cuba from mainland United States, but the | | | | experts say it could also create more |
| nations remain far apart on many issues. | | | | political and economic freedoms for Cuban |
| Political relations were severed decades ago, | | | | people. Brian Latell, a senior research |
| and travel and economic activity between the | | | | associate at the University of Miami's Cuba |
| nations are strictly limited. All that could | | | | institute and the author of a new book called |
| change, however, when Castro dies or hands | | | | "After Fidel," says the changes may allow |
| over power, according to experts at a | | | | Cubans to open small businesses and begin |
| conference called "A Future and Free Cuba" | | | | making profits for themselves. "They would be |
| held by the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce | | | | taxed, they would be under heavy control. But |
| and the University of Miami's Institute of | | | | I think as a result they would begin to feel |
| Cuban and Cuban-American Studies. | | | | more of an ability, an opportunity to earn |
| | | | money, to be in small enterprise," he said. |
| There is no indication the 79-year-old leader | | | | |
| is going anywhere soon, but the island's | | | | Some of the conference participants noted |
| future is always on the minds of Miami's | | | | they have been studying the possibility of |
| large Cuban exile community | | | | political transformation in Cuba for years, |
| | | | and not much has changed in that time. Even |
| Some experts at the conference predict that | | | | after 47 years in office, Fidel Castro has |
| Fidel's brother, Raul, will take power in | | | | shown little sign of relaxing his hold on |
| Havana and gradually open the economy to | | | | power. Miami lawyer Pedro Freyre warns that a |
| foreign investment and local business, as | | | | big concern will continue to be Cuba's lack |
| occurred in China. Others say radical | | | | of legal protections for private business and |
| political upheaval is more likely, fed by | | | | private property. "Until you have a framework |
| years of discontent, especially among Cuba's | | | | in Cuba that gives us a level, a measure of |
| youth. No matter what the political future | | | | comfort, that there is some kind of legal |
| holds, Andy Gomez, a senior fellow at the | | | | mechanism that guarantees private property |
| Cuba institute, says the economic | | | | rights, then it is fool's gold (a risky |
| possibilities are enormous. "There really is | | | | investment)," he said. |
| no limitation. I think the first economic | | | | |
| opportunity, once it's allowed under a Raul | | | | Many expect a post-Castro government would |
| secession government, is going to be in the | | | | begin relaxing some of its tight controls, |
| tourism industry. Then the other key area is | | | | but Freyre adds that some U.S. laws would |
| how to build the infrastructure of Cuba, the | | | | have to be changed as well. American |
| roads, transportation system, airlines, | | | | businesses are currently barred from |
| schools and housing," he said. | | | | operating in Cuba, and existing laws also |
| | | | limit the kinds of activities that firms |
| The oil sector is another area of possible | | | | could have under a transition or post-Castro |
| investment, since the recent discovery of | | | | government in Havana. |
| millions of barrels of oil off Cuba's | | | | |
| northern coast. Other businesses are | | | | Experts agree that Cuba's government and its |
| interested in gaining access to the island's | | | | relations with the United States will change |
| population of nearly 12 million as a new | | | | dramatically once Fidel Castro dies or leaves |
| consumer base. Ariel Melchor of Associated | | | | office, but when that will happen is anyone's |
| Grocers of Florida says he expects major | | | | guess. |