Cuba invites foreign construction companies to invest in its first Special Development Zone (SDZ) in the deepwater port of Mariel, a SDZ director said Thursday.

Ana Teresa Igarza, director of the SDZ Office, said that in a lecture to 160 representatives from 23 countries attending the 10th International Construction Fair (Fecons 2014) on the business opportunities of the SDZ, located 45 km west of Havana.

A total of 15 proposals for investment mainly in projects in traditional industries, agro-food, biotechnology and logistics were offered to the businessmen from Spain, Italy, Russia, China and Brazil, Igarza added.

Fecons 2014 is the first international trade event held by Cuba since its approval of the new investment law, which aims to attract 2.5 billion US dollars in fresh foreign capital every year.