As diplomatic relations with Cuba continue to thaw, an increasing number of U.S. businesses are traveling to the country. When touring the island, one of their stops should be the Mariel port and container terminal, known in Spanish as Zona Especial de Desarollo Mariel, or ZEDM.

Mariel is located approximately 30 miles west of Havana and is surrounded by a Chinese-style special development zone, which offers competitive tax and customs regimes.