HAVANA, Dec. 14th Officials from Cuba and the United States met in Havana Tuesday to discuss immigration issues, a topic of particular interest given the record exodus from the island to the United States. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 13th The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project takes place in areas from Bajos de Santa Ana, in Playa municipality, Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 12th (AP) — Onlookers scratched their heads at a particular scene just off the coast of Havana on Monday — Cuba’s coast guard Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 12th (Reuters) – Crisis-hit Cuba on Monday forecasted economic growth of 3% for 2023 and reported 2% in 2022, half of what it had previously predicted and down 8% from the pre-pandemic level.
This year has proved tough for most Cubans, who had already suffered as a result of two years of pandemic lockdowns, raging inflation and food, medicine and other shortages.
Daily blackouts have disrupted lives and the economy, while fuel and parts shortages have gutted public transportation.
Economy Minister Alejandro Gil told Cuba’s National Assembly that inflation was forecast at 31% for 2022, from 77% in 2021.
However, Pavel Vidal, a former Cuban central bank economist who is now based in Colombia, said that underestimated reality “because the official CPI under-represents the private markets and the informal market.”
Vidal estimated inflation at 200%, with two other Cuban economists agreeing it was in triple digits.
Gil also told the year-end session of the Assembly that growth was fueled by a modest increase in tourism and free social services from pandemic lows in 2022, while manufacturing and agriculture, in general, continued to stagnate and decline.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had gutted key dollar-earner tourism after the Trump administration imposed new sanctions aimed at foreign investment and trade, tourism and remittances.
While Gil projected tourist arrivals at 1.7 million in 2022, this compared with 2.5 million which had been forecast but represented an increase on the 360,000 who came to the island last year. He said arrivals would reach 3.5 million in 2023.
A record number of Cubans have left the island this year, with some 250,000 entering the United States according to U.S. government statistics, the majority crossing over the Mexican border after flying to third countries such as Nicaragua.
Gil said price instability in food, oil and shipping was further cutting into the Communist-run country’s international buying power.
The government has said imports fell by around 30% and exports by 45% in 2021 compared with levels in 2018.
Gil projected hard currency income would increase by around $1 billion next year, without giving further information on international trade or Cuba’s debt, which the government last reported as being $19.6 billion in 2019.
HAVANA, Dec. 12th Cuba is retaliating and is currently attempting to persuade other Caribbean countries to rebel against the West. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 11th Speaking at the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of People’s Power (parliament), where President Miguel Diaz-Canel was present, Read more
HAVANA, Dec.10th The pandemic and tougher U.S. sanctions have decimated Cuba’s economy, prompting the biggest migration since Fidel Castro rose to power. Read more
HAVANA, Dec 9 Cuba´s Consumer Price Index (CPI) grew 4.21% during October and 39.73% in interannual terms, the National Statistics and Information Office (ONEI) reported on Thursday. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 9th Delta Air Lines is restarting its service to Havana, Cuba, with two daily nonstop flights from Miami International Airport (MIA) beginning April 10, 2023. Read more
HAVANA, Dec 8 For Cuban artist Alejo Cañer, few things are explosive as the combination of sex and politics, and the “universes” he creates using that formula will be on display in Havana for the rest of this month. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 8th The report on small and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs) bankruptcies that the Camagüey newspaper Adelante published last Friday Read more
HAVANA, 7 Dec. Cuba will be connected in 2023 to an undersea cable deployed by the French group Orange from Martinique, Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 6th Havana Club is looking to capture the vibrancy of Cuban life with a new campaign aimed at strengthening its connection with younger buyers. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 6th On January 4, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Havana will resume immigrant visa processing for immediate relatives, family preference applicants, diversity visa applicants and visas for K fiancées. Read more
HAVANA, Dec 6 (RHC) Cuba on Monday expands the opportunities for foreign capital with the incorporation of new commercial possibilities in sectors such as food production, tourism, oil, industry, and mining. Read more
HAVANA, Dec 5th (Reuters) Boxing powerhouse Cuba has given the green light to women who wish to partake in tournaments for the first time since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, sports officials said on Monday. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 5th The Cuban Government consolidates the ways of administering power. There are several operational actions that have come into forc Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 3rd The 2nd Havana International Skate Marathon kicked off Friday after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 3rd (AP) — Cuba enacted a new penal code this week that activists and human rights organizations warned Friday could further limit free expression Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 2nd The Dominican Civil Aviation Board (JAC) announced that the request for the extension of the Special Permit to the Dominican Air Century Read more
HAVANA, Dec 1 The 43rd edition of the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema begins in Havana on Thursday with an invitation to enjoy in large, Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 2nd. Reuters) – Cuba´s Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio on Thursday accused long-time rival the United States of doublespeak Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 1st. On November 19, Italian carrier Neos resumed its flights between Milan (MXP) and Cayo Largo del Sur (CYO) with a stopover in Havana (HAV) after almost three years. Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 1st. (Reuters) China, Russia, Algeria and Turkey have pledged to restructure Cuba’s debt, provide new trade and investment financing, Read more
HAVANA, Dec. 1st. IBA President Umar Kremlev met the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the parties agreed on big steps for boxing development in Cuba. Read more
HAVANA, Nov. 30th Havana believes that it is important to seek active and effective participation of Russian companies in investment projects in Cuba, Read more
HAVANA, Nov. 29th Today Cuba faces a new energy crisis. The island’s former Minister of Economy and Planning, José Luis Rodríguez, put it bluntly: the country currently has the same generation capacity that it had in 1994. Read more
HAVANA, Nov 29 Cuba wants to enrich humankind’s intangible cultural heritage with the knowledge of its masters of light rum, Read more
HAVANA, Nov. 29th A new edition of the Festival del Son, as we know it -, although it was officially called the XXII Gathering of Son Bands – was celebrated in Mayari, Read more
HAVANA, Nov. 28th Cubans are voting Sunday in municipal elections amid a grave economic crisis that could weaken turnout and with the opposition charging some of its candidates have faced unfair pressure. Read more
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