Garcia is on a five-day visit to Rarotonga and presented his credentials to Queen’s Representative Sir Frederick Goodwin at Government House.
He would also meet with deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health Sir Terepai Maoate to give him more information about the scholarships his government can offer to the Cooks.
Garcia said Cuba has a large health training system with many schools and universities. Cuba offers 400 scholarships a year to South Pacific countries.
He said the area of study is not limited to health and medicine but can include other fields like engineering and agriculture. If government wishes to take part in the scholarship program, then Cuba could provide no less than 10 scholarships to start off.
So far island nations like Kiribati, Tuvalu, Nauru, and the Solomon Islands have taken up the offer of scholarships.
These countries now also have doctors sent from Cuba who work there for up to four years. Kiribati alone has had 15 doctors for the past two years and this will soon be increased to 32 doctors provided by Cuba.
Garcia said something similar could be arranged for the Cooks. He said firstly the relationship with the country is about friendship and cooperation as the republic attempts to further its diplomatic ties to South Pacific countries.
Diplomatic relations with Cuba were established in September 2002 and this is the first visit of an ambassador. Garcia is the ambassador to New Zealand and the Pacific.
Cuba established diplomatic relations with New Zealand in 2001 and opened its embassy in Wellington last year. Cuba first offered technical assistance to the Cooks in 2005.
