Cuba, Vietnam boost commercial relations.

Cuba will acquire 5.1 million polypropylene bags from Vietnam to pack sugar, as part of a deal between the two communist countries.

Vietnam's Nhat Trang Trade & Tourism Co. Ltd. also signed a memo of understanding with Artex--a unit of Cuba's Ministry of Culture--in which Cuba will send music and dance groups to Vietnam to boost the island's cultural presence in southeast Asia.

Vu Chi Cong, Vietnam's ambassador in Havana, highlighted the role Nhat Trang has played in the boosting of commercial relations between the two nations. He said the company, founded in 2001, has sold to Cuba electrical appliances, furniture, textiles, shoes, food and other product.

In 2008, Nhat Trang's subsidiary in Cuba reported $2.5 million in sales. This year, it has signed contracts for $31.3 million.