HAVANA—Llorente & Cuenca has started operating in Cuba ahead of US president Barack Obama’s visit to the island. Pau Solanilla (pictured), an expert in international business development with several years of experience in Cuba, will lead a team of professionals working from offices in Spain, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and the USA.

The consultancy has also signed a collaboration agreement with the state-owned company Consultores Asociados to provide consultancy services in institutional relations.

Since the restoration of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the USA last year, Llorente & Cuenca executives have visited the island several times, accompanying the Spanish ministers Luis de Guindos and José Manuel Soria and a select group of Spanish businessmen.

L&C’s activities in Cuba will initially focus on counseling international companies that want to set up or conduct business on the island, providing them with specialized services in business intelligence and market entry communications.