Raúl: We Have to Develop, Have Relations with all Countries, Trade with Everyone

Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz summoned the latest Council of Ministers meeting, December 20, in order to tackle problems facing Cuban society, “we must go there, we must converse, we can not give in to defeat.”

Before opening discussions on the agenda of issues, the Army General stated that Cubans must remain motivated in the face of difficulties, and continue fighting, as Fidel said on December 18, 1956, when the two brothers reunited at Cinco Palmas. “He triumphed because he always had that spirit and 25 months after disembarking entered Santiago with the victory in hand.”

Raúl noted the difficulties faced by the Cuban people after January 1, but stressed the need to continue struggling without loosing motivation for even one second. “We have to develop, have relations with all countries, trade with everyone, without depending on a single product, but rather many. We have the opportunity to do so, there is tourism, and every completed hotel is an open factory, there is also biotechnology, among others.”

He also commented on ideological efforts, above among the youth with whom, he noted, we must find new ways of connecting. “The new generations are different from us, remember that the youth resemble their times more than their parents, and to this we must pay greater attention.”

Cuban Economy Grew 4 percent in 2015

Cuban Economy Minister Marino Murillo said that, despite the negative impact of the US blockade on Cuba and financial restrictions, the Gross Domestic Product grew 4 percent in 2015, compared to last year.

Minister Murillo explained that this was the result of having access to cash ahead of time, proper execution of credits and a trend to a decrease in prices of imports, published Granma newspaper today.

He added that material production rose from 59.3 to 61.1 percent of the GPD in one year. All productive sectors grew compared to last year, though agriculture, sugar industry, construction, transportation, and communications failed to meet the plans.

Sugar production grew 16.9 percent, but fell 5.3 percent short of planned, mainly due to low performance and use of industrial capacity, caused by difficulties in the work organization.

The Minister also said that despite the growth in construction, they still couldn’t meet the plan because of the deficient technical preparation of investments.

During the meeting of the Council of Ministers, they approved the Economic Plan for 2016, where they plan to boost the internal reserves of the economy; direct resources to those activities that grant export and reduce imports, among others.

The plan guarantees similar expenditures for basic social services (Education, Health) as in the last years; it gives priority to power generation and the efficient use of energy.

This will be introduced at the next ordinary period of sessions of the
People´s Power Assembly, convened for December 29.

 

Taken from PL and ACN