During the meeting, participants will exchange experiences and knowledge on tropical cyclones to minimize the damage produced by these dangerous natural phenomena. Likewise, they will promote the signing of new agreements of bilateral and multilateral collaboration in this area.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), natural and hydro-meteorological disasters caused 350,000 deaths and some 200 billion dollars in losses last year. In 2005 a "tsunami" killed over 225,000 people in Indonesia, while an earthquake caused 70,000 deaths in Pakistan. The record of tropical storms per season was also broken last year with 26 -the previous record had been established in 1933 with 21.

According to the agenda, Cuba's Civil Defense organization will review its decisive role in the protection of the people over four decades.

As side activity of this Congress, the 3rd International Seminar on Risk Management is taking place. The agenda includes debates on meteorological, agricultural, industrial, financial and political risks. Insurance as a device for risk transference and its alternatives will also be a key theme of discussion.