Cuba buys trains buses from China

Posted to the web on: 05 April 2006
Cuba buys trains, buses from China
Sapa-AFP

HAVANA - President Fidel Castro said Cuba has bought 100 train engines
and more than 7,000 buses from China for delivery this year, as part of
his “energy revolution” to save fuel and improve public transport on the
communist island.

“One hundred train engines... We’ve also signed contracts for 1,000
20-ton trucks,” Castro, said at the Karl Marx Theater, on the
anniversary of two communist youth organizations.

Castro said more than 7,000 buses would be delivered by China this year,
and “thousands of passenger railroad cars are being repaired” for future
service in Cuba.

He said the purchases were part of his “energy revolution” for
nationwide fuel conservation. He said Cuba’s public transport sector
also needed upgrading after the deterioration that set in following the
demise of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Cuba in January received 12 Chinese train engines valued at $15m. In
February, it received 1,000 fuel-efficient buses from the Yutong company.

China is Cuba’s second largest trading partner after Venezuela.

They exchanged goods of more than $550m last year.

Cuba-China bilateral trade is expected to grow 48% this year focusing on
transportation, mineral extraction (nickel), electronic goods,
biotechnology, tourism and shipbuilding.

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A181540