The Cuban government said that 88% (155) of the 176 reforms approved in June, aimed at liberalizing and decentralizing the economy, already have legal backing. A further 17 pieces of legislation are expected to be approved in September, state media reported Saturday.
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero recently reviewed the implementation of the 155 measures, particularly those related to “municipal autonomy, agricultural recovery and trade,” according to the official report.
Marrero stressed that the country’s leadership is giving these decisions “priority” as part of efforts to promote development amid the “complex context” facing the country, marked by a polycrisis that has intensified over the past six years due to both domestic and external factors.
The head of government said that “the success” of the reforms depends in part “on the ability to implement what has been approved and turn the results into a tangible improvement in people’s lives.”
Regarding the measures aimed at stimulating agricultural production, Marrero said this is “one of the most strategic areas” for the country and called for efforts to “produce from the land even under complex circumstances.”
In recent weeks, Cuba has approved several laws related to the 176 reforms, including authorization for private companies to employ more than 100 workers and to hire workers directly, as well as measures allowing Cubans living abroad to invest in the island, granting indefinite-term land usufruct rights, and further opening up trade and tourism.
The island has also approved a new regulatory package governing the opening of foreign-currency bank accounts. The measures allow private companies to deposit cash in foreign currency and make direct payments abroad.
Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Public Health said that around 36 projects are being evaluated for the launch of private pharmacies in the Caribbean country, an area that the state has centrally controlled for decades.
Cuba’s economy is now almost completely paralyzed after contracting by 15% between 2020 and 2025. Independent forecasts suggest that the economy could shrink by as much as 10.3% this year.
The U.S. policy of “maximum pressure” since the beginning of 2026—including an oil blockade and secondary sanctions that have deterred foreign companies—has further aggravated the island’s precarious situation. Cuba is experiencing power outages lasting more than 20 hours a day, along with shortages of basic goods such as food and medicine.
