ES / EN
- June 9, 2023 -
No Result
View All Result
OnCubaNews Needs You
OnCubaNews
  • World
  • Cuba
  • Cuba-USA
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Infographic
  • Culture
    • Billboard
  • Sports
  • Styles / Trends
  • Media
  • Special
  • Cuban Flavors
  • World
  • Cuba
  • Cuba-USA
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Infographic
  • Culture
    • Billboard
  • Sports
  • Styles / Trends
  • Media
  • Special
  • Cuban Flavors
OnCubaNews
ES / EN
Home Cuba

Cuban government reaffirms refusal to import for individuals

Minister of Economy Alejandro Gil affirmed that authorizing these imports on a commercial basis “would be a mistake” and “a contradiction with respect to the strategy we are implementing” because, he said, this would lead to the flight of foreign currency from the country, something that the authorities are trying to avoid and the main reason for the opening since the end of 2019 of a group of stores for the exclusive sale in freely convertible currency.

by OnCuba Staff, OnCuba editorial staff
February 21, 2021
in Cuba, Economy
0
People transporting goods during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Havana, in January 2021. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

People transporting goods during the outbreak of COVID-19 in Havana, in January 2021. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

The Cuban government reaffirmed its refusal to allow commercial imports by individuals as part of the reform package it is carrying out, in a context marked by the shortage of a group of products and the economic crisis increased by the coronavirus pandemic.

Importation by individuals “could seem, at first glance, a short-term solution, but it would be a measure that would affect the economy, slow down the recovery process and reduce the chances that the economy has of imposing itself in this scenario and give a better quality of life to our population,” said Cuban Minister of Economy Alejandro Gil on this Friday’s Mesa Redonda television program.

Gil acknowledged that his government has received opinions and concerns from the population on this issue, according to which “if we have a moment of scarcity in the economy, if the country does not have the possibility of maintaining a stable supply in the markets, why not allow people to go abroad to buy products and sell them here?”

He responded to this by saying that authorizing these imports “would be a mistake” and “a contradiction with respect to the strategy we are implementing” because, he said, this would lead to the flight of foreign currency from the country, something that the authorities are trying to avoid and the main reason for the opening since the end of 2019 of a group of stores for the exclusive sale in freely convertible currency.

Tres pasos para comprar en las tiendas en divisas extranjeras en Cuba

The minister recalled, quoted by Cubadebate, that one of the arguments for the opening of these stores “was precisely that the hard currency was leaving the country” at a time when the government had no “possibility of supplying the markets and providing resources to the population.”

Related Posts

Photo: Taken from Clandestina/FB.

Ranking of Notoriety of private brands in Cuba: the first step

June 8, 2023
Charging station of the company Xedit, in Havana. Photo: Granma.

Cuba to have electric vehicle charging stations this year

June 6, 2023
A Cuban mother with her daughter. Photo: Otmaro Rodriguez.

How many Cubans will live in Cuba in 2055? (II)

June 1, 2023
Photo: Kaloian

How many Cubans live in Cuba today? (I)

May 31, 2023

More than a year after the opening of the first establishments in freely convertible currency, Gil affirmed that “the marked strategy of collecting foreign currency as a way to produce products in national currency for the population is working.”

“That we don’t have the level of supply that we should to satisfy the country’s solvent demand, it is real. But it must be understood that we have been operating for almost a year in pandemic conditions, since March 2020. Tourism is totally affected, the blockade comes from way back, the suspension of cruises…,” he explained.

He also affirmed that although “there is a minimum level of supply,” Cuba is “surviving this situation and we have a strategy to reverse that situation.” However, he said that “it does not depend only on us, but on the international context, but everything we do is for that.”

In addition, he acknowledged that “not all conditions have been created, from the point of view of supplies and inputs,” for self-employment, a constant claim from the private sector on the island, and pointed out that his government has to “work on that.” But, he said “our economy does not give up having a stable supply in wholesale markets, that is a goal to be achieved.”

Cuba: ¿qué necesita el sector privado para importar y exportar?

In Gil’s opinion, the opening of stores in freely convertible currency “would not be a measure that benefits the population if we renounce the capture of these currencies in the state network to finance our industry, and then we promote that those currencies when they enter, come out again and do not connect with our domestic market,” and pointed out that his government “defends the need to maintain a level of supply in the national market in freely convertible currency and also in Cuban pesos,” “because foreign exchange is also captured there, but we still haven’t been able to have a level of supply in the market as a consequence of this crisis.”

“If we promote the import by individuals of products from abroad to resell them in the country, the national industry will be totally disconnected from it; we would not be creating jobs, one of the challenges we have,” and “neither would we be developing the national industry and that, ultimately, affects the people, the self-employed workers themselves, who will not have inputs to carry out other activities,” he added.

As part of its reforms, the Cuban government gave the green light to private sector exports and imports, and allows individuals to import, but always through state-owned companies and without commercial intent. In addition, the island’s authorities have insisted on the role of self-employment in the current economic scenario of the country and recently expanded the activities that can be carried out in this modality and published a list of those that are not allowed.

“The improvement and expansion of self-employment, in addition to the generation of new jobs, will provide the economy with greater vitality, diversification and competitiveness. That is the road to follow. We all win,” Gil wrote days ago on his Twitter account.

Authors

OnCuba Staff, OnCuba editorial staff
Tags: economic reform in Cuba
Previous Post

Coronavirus: Cuba reports four deaths and approaches a thousand cases in one day

Next Post

More than a thousand coronavirus infections in Cuba, number rises again

OnCuba Staff

OnCuba Staff

OnCuba Staff

OnCuba Staff

Next Post
Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez/OnCuba.

More than a thousand coronavirus infections in Cuba, number rises again

Soberana 02 is the most advanced Cuban vaccine candidate to date. Photo: taken from the official Twitter of the Cuban Ministry of Sciences.

Soberana 02 vaccine candidate starts large-scale production

Parque de la Fraternidad

Faces and stories of the Parque de la Fraternidad

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

The conversation here is moderated according to OnCuba News discussion guidelines. Please read the Comment Policy before joining the discussion.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Most Read

  • Image: OC/Canva.

    Traveling, importing and sending packages to Cuba: What should you know?

    39 shares
    Share 16 Tweet 10
  • How many Cubans will live in Cuba in 2055? (II)

    10 shares
    Share 4 Tweet 3
  • Cuban movie posters, a gem of the island recognized by UNESCO

    12 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
  • What foods can be brought to Cuba and what imports are forbidden?

    552 shares
    Share 221 Tweet 138
  • Cuba to have electric vehicle charging stations this year

    5 shares
    Share 2 Tweet 1

Most Commented

    • About us
    • Work with OnCuba
    • Terms of use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Moderation policy for comments
    • Contact us
    • Advertisement offers

    OnCuba and the OnCuba logo are registered® trademarks of Fuego Enterprises, Inc., its subsidiaries or divisions.
    OnCuba © by Fuego Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • World
    • Cuba
    • Cuba-USA
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Infographic
    • Culture
      • Billboard
    • Sports
    • Styles / Trends
    • Media
    • Special
    • Cuban Flavors

    OnCuba and the OnCuba logo are registered® trademarks of Fuego Enterprises, Inc., its subsidiaries or divisions.
    OnCuba © by Fuego Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Go to mobile version