South Africa could invest in Cuban oil: report

South Africa could invest in Cuban oil: report
07 December, 2010 06:07:00

IRJ – Dec. 7 – South African firms could head across the Atlantic Ocean
to help develop Cuba's energy sector, according to a report released today.

A delegation of 50 South African business leaders are in the Caribbean
nation as South African President Jacob Zuma is paying Cuba a state
visit, and according to Cuba's state news agency Prensa Latina, South
Africa's Minister of Industry and Trade Robert Davies said his nation's
entrepreneurs are interested in developing Cuba's oil and renewable
energy sectors.

Cuba relies heavily on Venezuelan imports for its oil needs, and holds
some 178.9 million barrels of proved reserves of oil. However, the
country has been subject to a trade embargo by the United States since
1961, eliminating a crucial potential investor in its oil – and one who
lives just next door.

Davies also expressed interest in South African investment in other
Cuban industries, such as mining, tourism and construction.

Cuba's Minister for Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca,
praised South Africa's economy and said he would like a greater South
African presence in the Cuban economy, according to the report.

http://www.internationalresourcejournal.com/resource_news/07_12_south_africa_could_invest_in_cuban_oil_report_10.html

Brazil: Mariel investment aiming at post-embargo trade

Brazil: Mariel investment aiming at post-embargo trade

Brazilian government officials told National Security Advisor Gen. James
L. Jones that Brazil's $300 million investment in the expansion of a
Cuban port only makes sense in a post-embargo scenario.

According to a cable sent by the U.S. embassy in September 2009 and
published this week by Wikileaks, Jones talked with presidential foreign
policy advisor Marco Aurelio García and his deputy, Ambassador Marcel
Biato, as well as other Brazilian during an Aug. 4-5 visit to Brasilia
last year.

"They noted that their plans to help Cuba construct a deep-water port at
Mariel only make sense on the assumption that Cuba and the United States
will eventually develop a trading relationship," the cable said about
the meeting with García and Biato.

The Brazilian officials also pressed Jones to consider ending U.S.
sanctions against Cuba. According to the U.S. cable, García and Biato
said that "Raúl Castro is more pragmatic and less ideological than
Fidel, with a focus on getting short-term economic results. They see
Cuba as taking a path similar to that of Vietnam under Raúl, whom they
acknowledged was a transitional leader. Given that the United States has
a relationship with Vietnam, Garcia said, there is no reason the United
States can't have a similar relationship with Cuba."

According to the Brazilian officials, their support for Cuba and efforts
to include the island in hemispheric forums "open additional space that
Raúl needs to engage the United States."

Apparently, Jones had expressed concern over Brazilian cooperation with
Cuba.

http://www.cubastandard.com/2010/12/08/brazil-mariel-investment-aiming-at-post-embargo-trade/

Opposition wants Cuba's socialist model dumped, not updated

Politics

Opposition wants Cuba's socialist model dumped, not updated
Published December 07, 2010 EFE

Havana – Prominent dissident Guillermo Fariñas and two other members of
the opposition presented here Tuesday a document rejecting the Raul
Castro administration's plan of adjustments, demanding change rather
than a "modernization" of Cuba's socialist economic model.

In a session with foreign reporters, Fariñas, Rene Gomez Manzano and
Felix Antonio Bonne Carcasses released the text of "Cuba Es lo Primero"
(Cuba First), stating their opposition to the plan of economic reform
outlined in the basic document of the 6th Congress of the ruling
Communist Party, to be held next April.

Last Wednesday the island saw the beginning of a popular debate of that
basic document entitled "Project of Guidelines for the Economic and
Social Policy of the Party and the Revolution."

"We as Cubans disagree and will certainly express our points of view
freely," the three opposition members said in their own document
presented Tuesday.

Fariñas and his two associates believe that the government's plan of
reforms has little credibility and describe as a "lack of respect" for
citizens and for the party's own congress the fact that the conclave
will only discuss economic subjects, shunting aside "vital" political
and social matters.

They also said that the basic document of the congress omits statistics
and problems such as the "generalized corruption" and the plan to lay
off 500,000 state employees, while its approach could not be more full
of party platitudes.

They said that the Cuban model must be totally changed and not
"modernized," as proposed by the Communist Party, which they also
criticized for dodging the preparation of a "self-critical analysis of
the last half century" for the upcoming congress.

In the document, the three opposition members ask respect for human
rights on the island, the legalization of dissent, free and competitive
elections, and that all political prisoners be freed once and for all
"and that there never be any more."

Fariñas, who received the European Parliament's 2010 Sakharov Prize for
human rights, said that the Communist Party's reform plan is an interim
device to "gain time" and see what happens with the presidency of Hugo
Chavez in Venezuela, with regard to the subsidies that Caracas gives Cuba.

Fariñas also made a "call for rationality" to the Cuban government in
the case of the 11 members of the "Group of 75" dissidents rounded up in
March 2003 who remain in jail, two months after the end of the period
for freeing them that was agreed upon with the Catholic Church.

He said the government is afraid of what those "leaders" can do, adding
that the first condition for any negotiation of the opposition with the
authorities is unconditional freedom without exile for all dissidents.

Now it is apparently former President Fidel Castro, Raul's older
brother, who is in charge of freeing dissidents who refuse to leave the
island as a condition for getting out of jail, Fariñas said.

He also believed that it is Fidel who "is handling" the subject of
whether he will be allowed to travel to Europe for the Dec. 15
presentation of the Sakharov Prize.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2010/12/07/opposition-wants-cubas-socialist-model-dumped-updated/

Cuba inicia la zafra de azúcar con cuatro centrales menos tras la crisis del sector

Cuba inicia la zafra de azúcar con cuatro centrales menos tras la crisis
del sector
Por Agencia EFE

La Habana, 9 dic (EFE).- La cosecha de azúcar 2010-2011 en Cuba comenzó
este mes con el arranque de dos de las 39 fábricas que producirán
durante la temporada, cuatro menos que en la zafra anterior, cuando el
sector sufrió su peor crisis en el último siglo.

El diario oficial Granma explicó hoy que el Ministerio del Azúcar
(Minaz) decidió iniciar la cosecha con la puesta en marcha de dos
fábricas en las provincias de Pinar del Río y Matanzas, que se han
distinguido por su "puntualidad".

El rotativo señala que antes de que termine este año otros 15 centrales
deben iniciar la producción, y en enero se sumarán los restantes, hasta
el fin de la molienda a mediados de año.

La actual zafra se desarrollará así con un total de 39 fábricas, cuatro
menos que en la temporada 2009-2010, que cerró en mayo con los
resultados más pobres desde 1905, y cuya producción final no fue precisada.

La crisis conllevó a la sustitución del ministro del Azúcar y a una
revisión de las estrategias del sector.

Para esta zafra, el Minaz tiene como objetivo "invertir los recursos en
los centrales más seguros y estables", según Granma, periódico oficial
del gobernante Partido Comunista de Cuba.

En octubre pasado, autoridades del Azúcar indicaron que el país se
encontraba en "mejores condiciones" técnicas y organizativas para
enfrentar la cosecha de caña y se esperaban "buenos resultados".

Los especialistas apuntan que en la etapa de siembra el comportamiento
del clima tuvo una influencia más "positiva" y las pérdidas fueron
menores respecto al año anterior.

Entre 2002 y 2004, Cuba reestructuró el sector azucarero con la
reducción de sus centrales de 156 a 61, la eliminación de más de 100.000
plazas de trabajo y la disminución de la superficie de cultivo de dos
millones de hectáreas a unas 750.000, de acuerdo con datos oficiales.

Esa industria, que en otros tiempos llegó a ser considerada la
"locomotora" de la economía cubana, produjo 1,4 millones de toneladas de
azúcar en la temporada 2008-2009 y facturó más de 600 millones de dólares.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/epa/article/ALeqM5h_uovkMyhbIm0rxQ2Bbyhvn4zE_w?docId=1422544

Arranca la zafra azucarera, con la 'reorganización' como tema pendiente

Economía

Arranca la zafra azucarera, con la 'reorganización' como tema pendiente
Agencias
La Habana 08-12-2010 - 11:41 pm.

Las negociaciones con al menos dos empresas extranjeras para la
administración conjunta y la producción, se han prolongado sin resultados.

El país puso en marcha la zafra azucarera del período 2010-2011 con la
apertura de los dos primeros ingenios de los 39 previstos, ante el
llamado de las autoridades para producir más del total de 1,1 millones
de toneladas de azúcar sin refinar que logró en la campaña precedente,
informó Reuters.

"Las empresas del sector recibieron los insumos necesarios a fin de
superar los resultados de la zafra anterior y cumplir con las metas en
la próxima campaña", dijo el ministro del Azúcar, Orlando García, a
comienzos de este mes.

Estimaciones iniciales señalaron que la producción de azúcar no sería
más de 1,1 millones de toneladas. Sin embargo, las abundantes lluvias de
octubre y noviembre llevaron a las autoridades a incrementar sus
pronósticos a 1,2 millones de toneladas, según fuentes de la industria.

"El primero en abrir fue el 30 de Noviembre, de Pinar del Río, el pasado
sábado, luego de ser declarado listo para la vital contienda económica",
dijo el semanario Girón, del Partido Comunista en la provincia de Matanzas.

Girón dijo que un central azucarero de la provincia de Matanzas abriría
el miércoles.

Autoridades del Ministerio del Azúcar dijeron que 17 ingenios comenzarán
a operar en diciembre, muchos más de los pocos que usualmente suelen
participar en la llamada "pequeña cosecha" antes del inicio propiamente
de la temporada, que comienza en enero y continúa hasta abril.

Hay cinco ingenios menos trabajando en esta temporada debido
principalmente a la falta de caña, según informes de medios oficiales de
comunicación.

El Estado es propietario de todos los centrales azucareros.

Los funcionarios sostienen que un mejoramiento de la cosecha y la
molienda deviene, sin embargo, un mayor número de toneladas, un
pronóstico visto con escepticismo por los analistas locales cercanos de
la industria.

Los comerciantes dijeron a Reuters que la industria no tiene planes para
importar azúcar, ni exportar más de las 400.000 toneladas que envía cada
año a China y de las pequeñas cantidades que vende en otros lugares.

Cuba consume un promedio de 700.000 toneladas de azúcar anualmente. Sin
embargo, este año el consumo fue de alrededor de 600.000 toneladas,
debido a una reducción de la ración mensual de azúcar destinada a la
población de la Isla y por otras medidas, dijeron fuentes del sector.

La producción de Cuba, donde el azúcar tuvo un papel principal en el
pasado, llegó a representar el 90 por ciento de los ingresos por
exportación, pero cayó en picada hasta solo un 5 por ciento en el último
año.

El sector ha elaborado planes para reorganizar la industria y permitir
la inversión extranjera por primera vez desde que los molinos fueron
nacionalizados por el Gobierno en la década de 1960.

Pero la reorganización aún no ha comenzado y las negociaciones con al
menos dos empresas extranjeras para la administración conjunta de los
ingenios y la producción durante un número limitado de años, se han
prolongado sin resultados, dijo una fuente extranjera cercana a los
negocios.

http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2088-arranca-la-zafra-azucarera-con-la-reorganizacion-como-tema-pendiente

Cuban workers discuss economic changes

Cuban workers discuss economic changes
By PAUL HAVEN
HAVANA

Some worried aloud about the elimination of government subsidies that
keep food on the table. Others blamed red tape for the island's
crippling inefficiency. One man complained he simply could not make ends
meet on wages of less than $20 a month.

Cuban workers laid bare their concerns about the state of their country
in a meeting at a dimly lit auditorium on the outskirts of the capital,
one of thousands of such gatherings taking place across the country
ahead of a landmark economic summit scheduled for April.

The Associated Press was granted rare access to the workers' assembly at
the Antillana Steelworks company by the Cuban government, which says
such debates are evidence that it allows for greater input from its
citizens than do traditional democracies.

It was impossible to know whether the workers were influenced by the
presence of foreign journalists, but they appeared to speak bluntly
about a wide range of concerns during the three-hour encounter with
union and Communist Party leaders, as well as management representatives
of the state-run enterprise.

Cuba is in the midst of the most significant economic change in a
generation. The government has already announced it will eliminate
500,000 government jobs -- or one-tenth of the work force -- while
allowing greater private enterprise. It also says it seeks to repay
billions of dollars in foreign debt, modernize its aging infrastructure
and eliminate a system that allows employees to get paid even if they
don't actually do any work.

The government on Dec. 1 began a national debate ahead of April's Sixth
Party Congress, urging all Cubans to raise concerns at meetings taking
place in neighborhoods and workplaces across the island. It is the first
such meeting in 13 years, and party leaders plan to use the session to
plot the country's future for years to come.

The Antillana steel workers weren't shy, taking the microphone to raise
many of the same issues Cubans have been complaining of for years.

One man, Camilo Mercado, rose in opposition to government plans to
eventually do away with the food ration book, which provides all
citizens with a basic basket of food at greatly subsidized prices. He
said that as it is, he spends half of his salary of 350 pesos a month
($16.70) just to buy rice.

In addition to the ration book, Cubans receive free health care and
education, and nearly free housing, utilities and transportation. But
they earn an average salary of just $20 a month, which by most accounts
is extremely difficult to live on even when taking into account the
reduced prices.

President Raul Castro has said the state can no longer afford to grant
workers such subsidies, and the government has already cut many
workplace lunch programs and has started to eliminate or reduce foods
offered under the ration book.

"We understand that the products we buy are subsidized," Mercado said as
his fellow workers looked on during Monday's meeting. "But our salaries
don't cover the basic needs of a household. It's not just food. There
are a million things."

Another worker complained that the steelworks had to shut down for four
months in 2009 because of a mechanical breakdown. He said red tape
prevented the problem from being solved quickly.

Yet another said he had noticed a drop-off in the quality of the
island's education system, noting that many teachers at his children's
school had not yet earned a degree.

Worker Luis Arnaldo Pilotes complained that a lack of public
transportation made it difficult to get to and from work. Cuba relies on
a fleet of aging buses, many donated from the former Eastern bloc,
although the country also has some new buses bought from China.

"We thought we would see more buses put into service, but that hasn't
happened," he said.

Antillana is one of the pillars of Cuba's metallurgy industry, employing
2,000 workers nationwide. Officials said the company has not yet been
affected by the nationwide layoffs, but that its turn for review would
come next year.

Union leaders repeatedly urged workers to speak their minds and took
note of their concerns.

It took three hours to work through the 291 points outlined in 32 pages
of Communist Party guidelines, which were broken up into 12 sections on
topics like "Macroeconomic Policies," "Science, Technological and
Innovation" and "Transportation Policies."

After each section, the workers were asked to vote -- not on whether
they agreed with any specific proposals, but on whether they thought the
issues should be part of the debate taken up at the congress in April.

Even those who rose to complain about the state of their affairs
repeatedly put their hands in the air and voted in favor of each
section, though one man pointedly refused.

When asked by a member of the leadership panel why he kept his arm at
his side, Arnaldo Pajes said he had no interest in taking part in a
process he saw as meaningless. He said he had not given the guidelines
so much as a glance, but that all the plans meant nothing if they were
not applied.

"I will not vote in favor, nor against, nor will I abstain myself,"
Pajes said, growing angry when pressed to explain himself. "I want to
see things actually done in the real world."

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JVIQI82.htm

South African President Zuma gives aid to Cuba

Posted on Wednesday, 12.08.10
South African President Zuma gives aid to Cuba
By JENNY GROSS
Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG -- South African President Jacob Zuma announced a 210
million rand ($30 million) credit package for Cuba and forgave Cuba's
debt to South Africa during a state visit to the island nation, a
decision his opponents criticized Wednesday.

Zuma also said Cuba would get trading credits to import South African goods.

South Africa's main opposition group said they believe improved
relations with Cuba would offer little to South Africans or to the
country's economy.

"We are certainly not furthering our trade objectives when one considers
that Cuba is not a major trading partner and lacks the capacity to
develop into one in the future," said a statement from the Democratic
Alliance.

In the past 20 years, Cuba has most likely defaulted on payments of
South African exports, said Mark Ellyne, a former senior economist at
the International Monetary Fund and visiting professor at University of
Cape Town.

"If you look back at the data of all South African exports to Cuba in
the past 20 years, strangely enough, the value of those exports is about
1.2 billion rand ($172 million), and the South African government is
holding a claim of 1.1 billion rand ($158 million)."

The aid included seeds and fertilizer to support agriculture in the
aftermath of Cuba's 2008 hurricane and a grant from the African
Renaissance Fund, which promotes good governance and cooperation between
South Africa and other countries.

South African government officials said they aim to boost trade and
investments between the two countries, which fell to 1 million rand
($144,000) this year from 82 million rand($12 million) in 2008.

South Africa exports some 525 billion rand ($75 billion) of goods each
year, so the 1.2 billion rand ($172 million) debt write-off for 20 years
of trade with Cuba is relatively insignificant, Ellyne said.

"This is not going to have any economic impact on South Africa," he
said. "We don't know whether this is a favor to Cuban companies or a
favor to South African exporters."

South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers applauded the debt
forgiveness, recognizing Cuba's support against South Africa's pre-1994
apartheid government and the number of Cuban health workers who came to
South Africa after the end of apartheid rule.

During his visit, Zuma also relaxed visa requirements for Cubans
traveling to South Africa.

South Africa and Cuba have had close ties since South Africa's first
democratic elections in 1994. In October, South Africa supported the
U.N. in condemning almost a half-century of U.S. sanctions against Cuba
and demanded an end to what member states say is a Cold War anachronism
that only hurts ordinary people.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/08/1963192/south-african-president-zuma-gives.html

Cuba pone en marcha zafra azucarera 2010-2011

Cuba pone en marcha zafra azucarera 2010-2011
8 de Diciembre de 2010 • 4:22PM
Por Marc Frank

LA HABANA (Reuters) - Cuba puso en marcha la zafra azucarera del
2010-2011 con la apertura de los dos primeros ingenios de los 39
previstos, ante el llamado de las autoridades para producir más del
total de 1,1 millones de toneladas de azúcar sin refinar que logró en la
campaña precedente.

"Las empresas del sector recibieron los insumos necesarios a fin de
superar los resultados de la zafra anterior y cumplir con las metas en
la próxima campaña", dijo el ministro del Azúcar, Orlando García, a
comienzos de este mes.

Estimaciones iniciales señalaron que la producción de azúcar no sería
más de 1,1 millones de toneladas. Sin embargo, las abundantes lluvias de
octubre y noviembre llevaron a las autoridades a incrementar sus
pronósticos a 1,2 millones de toneladas, según fuentes de la industria.

"El primero en abrir fue el 30 de Noviembre, de Pinar del Río, el pasado
sábado, luego de ser declarado listo para la vital contienda económica",
dijo el semanario Girón, del Partido Comunista en la provincia de Matanzas.

Girón dijo que un central azucarero de la occidental provincia de
Matanzas abriría el miércoles.

Autoridades del Ministerio del Azúcar dijeron que 17 ingenios comenzarán
a operar en diciembre, muchos más de los pocos que usualmente suelen
participar en la llamada "pequeña cosecha" antes del inicio propiamente
de la temporada que comienza en enero y que continúa hasta abril.

Hay cinco ingenios menos trabajando en esta temporada debido
principalmente a la falta de caña, según informes de medios oficiales de
comunicación.

El Estado es propietario de todos los centrales azucareros.

Los funcionarios sostienen que un mejoramiento de la cosecha y la
molienda deviene, sin embargo, en un mayor número de toneladas, un
pronóstico visto con escepticismo por los analistas locales cercanos de
la industria.

Los comerciantes dijeron a Reuters que la industria no tiene planes para
importar azúcar, ni exportar más de las 400.000 toneladas que envía cada
año a China y de las pequeñas cantidades que vende en otros lugares.

Cuba consume un promedio de 700.000 toneladas de azúcar anualmente. Sin
embargo, este año el consumo fue de alrededor de 600.000 toneladas
debido a una reducción de la ración mensual de azúcar destinada a la
población de la isla y por otras medidas, dijeron fuentes del sector.

La producción de Cuba, donde el azúcar tuvo un papel principal en el
pasado, llegó a representar el 90 por ciento de los ingresos por
exportación, pero cayó en picada hasta solo un 5 por ciento en el último
año.

El sector ha elaborado planes para reorganizar la industria y permitir
la inversión extranjera por primera vez desde que los molinos fueron
nacionalizados por el Gobierno en la década de 1960.

Pero la reorganización aún no ha comenzado y las negociaciones con al
menos dos empresas extranjeras para la administración conjunta de los
ingenios y la producción durante un número limitado de años, se han
prolongado sin resultados, dijo una fuente extranjera cercana a los
negocios.

(Editado por Gabriel Burin)

http://noticias.terra.com/noticias/cuba_pone_en_marcha_zafra_azucarera_2010_2011/act2623917

Sudáfrica cancela deuda de La Habana y le otorga un crédito de 30 millones de dólares

Economía

Sudáfrica cancela deuda de La Habana y le otorga un crédito de 30
millones de dólares
Agencias
La Habana 08-12-2010 - 12:49 pm.

El Gobierno de Sudáfrica otorgará al de Cuba un crédito por valor de 30
millones de dólares, al tiempo que decidió cancelar una deuda de La
Habana en las áreas química y automotor, según informaron medios
oficiales, reportó EFE.

La estatal Agencia de Información Nacional (AIN) indicó que el ministro
sudafricano de Comercio e Industria, Rob Davies, hizo el anuncio tras
una firma de acuerdos bilaterales en La Habana, como parte de la visita
oficial que realiza a Cuba el presidente de su país, Jacob Zuma.

Los acuerdos, suscritos en la sede de la Cancillería cubana, incluyen un
comunicado sobre la cancelación de la deuda, aunque no se precisa el
monto de la misma.

"Tratamos de retribuir a Cuba con este paso porque nunca haremos lo
suficiente, dado lo que han hecho los cubanos por nosotros", indicó
Davies, según el reporte de la AIN.

El acto estuvo presidido por el vicepresidente del Consejo de Ministros
de Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas, y por la ministra de Relaciones Exteriores y
Cooperación de Sudáfrica, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, quien también viajó a
la Isla acompañando a Zuma.

Este martes, Zuma encabezó junto a Raúl Castro una ceremonia militar y
política para recordar la muerte de Antonio Maceo y de los soldados
cubanos caídos en África.

En ese acto también fue abanderada la delegación de la Isla que
participará en el XVII Festival Mundial de la Juventud y los
Estudiantes, que se celebrará en la ciudad sudafricana de Pretoria entre
los días 13 y 21 de diciembre.

Zuma, quien llegó a La Habana el domingo y concluirá su visita este
miércoles, sostuvo conversaciones oficiales con Raúl Castro y fue
distinguido con la orden José Martí, la más alta condecoración que
otorga el régimen cubano.

http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2071-sudafrica-cancela-deuda-de-la-habana-y-le-otorga-un-credito-de-30-millones-de-dolares

Big jump seen in U.S. travel to Cuba in 2010

Big jump seen in U.S. travel to Cuba in 2010
By Marc Frank
Reuters
updated 12/6/2010 1:20:18 PM ET 2010-12-06T18:20:18

HAVANA — More than 1,000 travelers from the United States are arriving
every day in Cuba on average, most of Cuban origin, making Havana's
long-time foe its second source of visitors after Canada, travel
industry and diplomatic sources said Monday.

U.S. charter companies flying to the Communist-ruled island say business
has boomed since President Barack Obama's administration lifted
restrictions last year on Cuban-Americans visiting their homeland, and
also loosened curbs on academic, religious, cultural and other
professional travel.

U.S. citizens are forbidden from traveling to Cuba without their
government's permission under a wide-ranging U.S. trade embargo on the
island imposed nearly five decades ago.

"There is a huge increase this year compared with 2009," said Armando
Garcia, president of Marazul Charters, the oldest of a growing number of
companies chartering flights to Cuba.

"Through October around 265,000 have traveled. November and December are
the peak months, so we expect 330,000 will go to Cuba on direct flights
from the United States this year," Garcia said, speaking in a telephone
interview from Miami.

Cuban tourism industry sources said more and more U.S. citizens or
Cuba-bound travelers from the United States were also arriving through
third countries such as Mexico and the Bahamas to get around the U.S.
travel ban, avoid licensing hassles, or simply because it is the less
expensive route.

There are no regular scheduled commercial flights between Cuba and the
United States which lie less than an hour's flight apart, separated by
the Florida Straits.

"We estimate the total (visitors from the U.S. to Cuba) for the year
will be more than 400,000," a U.S. State Department source said, asking
his name not be used due to restrictions on talking with journalists.

HAVANA AIRPORT EXPANSION

Cuba reported 2.4 million tourists arrived in 2009, with Canada the
largest provider at close to 915,000, followed by Great Britain at
172,000 and Spain at 129,000.

The Cuban National Statistics Office (http://www.one.cu) reported that
Canadian arrivals through October of this year had increased, while
there was little change from Great Britain and a significant drop in
Spanish tourism.

Cuba reported 52,455 arrivals from the United States in 2009, but those
of Cuban origin were included under a wide separate category of "other."
Local tourism officials said 80,000 U.S. citizens came in 2008,
including Cuban-Americans.

The official trade union weekly, Trabajadores, ran a front page article
Monday on the expansion of the Havana airport terminal that receives
U.S. flights, saying it would be completed by this Christmas and double
capacity.

Marazul's Garcia estimated U.S. travel to Cuba would increase another 30
percent in 2011.

Legislation that would have lifted entirely U.S. restrictions on travel
to Cuba died in Congress this year. Such initiatives will have even less
chance of passage when a new Congress convenes in January, following the
Republican Party's success in the November mid-term elections.

Cuban-American Republican members of Congress are fierce and vocal
opponents of opening up more U.S. travel to Cuba, saying there should be
no relaxation without political change and human rights improvements on
the island.

Advocates of more freedom to travel to Cuba hope the Obama
administration will at least further loosen remaining restrictions,
opening up more so-called 'people to people' contact visits that would
favor sports, cultural, artistic, academic and religious exchanges.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40533558/ns/travel-destination_travel/

Fuerte aumento en viajes de EEUU a Cuba en 2010

Turismo

Fuerte aumento en viajes de EEUU a Cuba en 2010

Más de 1.000 viajeros de Estados Unidos, la mayoría exiliados cubanos,
aterrizan cada día en la Isla

Agencias, Madrid | 07/12/2010

Más de 1.000 viajeros de Estados Unidos, la mayoría exiliados cubanos,
aterrizan cada día en Cuba convirtiendo a los antiguos enemigos en el
segundo mayor grupo de visitantes tras los canadienses, dijeron el lunes
fuentes de la industria y diplomáticos.

Las compañías de vuelos chárter estadounidenses dicen que el negocio no
para de crecer desde que la Administración del presidente Barack Obama
eliminó las restricciones a las visitas de los cubanoamericanos a fines
del 2009 y suavizó algunas trabas para los viajes de académicos, grupos
religiosos, artistas y profesionales.

Los ciudadanos estadounidenses no pueden viajar a Cuba a menos que
tengan un permiso del Gobierno, como parte de las sanciones impuestas
hace casi medio siglo a la isla de Gobierno comunista.

"Este año ha habido un incremento tremendo sobre el año pasado", dijo
Armando García, presidente de Marazul Charters, en una entrevista
telefónica desde Miami.

Marazul es la más antigua de las ocho compañías estadounidenses que
operan vuelos charter a Cuba.

"Hasta octubre habían viajado cerca de 265.000. Noviembre y diciembre
son meses altos, así que se espera que este año viajen alrededor de
330.000 personas en vuelos directos desde Estados Unidos", añadió.

El ejecutivo dijo que hay unos 400 vuelos chárter de Miami a La Habana y
otras tres ciudades cubanas. En la temporada alta de diciembre hay hasta
17 vuelos diarios.

Fuentes de la industria cubana del turismo dicen que también aumenta el
número de ciudadanos estadounidenses que llegan a Cuba a través de
terceros países como México o Bahamas para burlar las sanciones, evitar
los engorrosos trámites de las licencias o sencillamente porque es más
barato.

No hay vuelos regulares entre los dos países a sólo 145 kilómetros de
distancia y sin relaciones diplomáticas plenas.

"Calculamos que el total este año estará por encima de los 400.000",
dijo una fuente del Departamento de Estado que pidió no ser identificada
porque no está autorizada a hablar con periodistas.

Cuba reportó haber recibido 2,4 millones de turistas en el 2009. Canadá
es el principal emisor con cerca de 915.000, seguido por Gran Bretaña
con 172.00 y España con 129.000.

La Oficina Nacional de Estadísticas reportó un aumento en las llegadas
de turistas canadienses hasta octubre, mientras el flujo de visitantes
británicos se mantuvo estable y hubo una caída significativa en las
llegadas de españoles.

Cuba reportó 52.455 llegadas de estadounidenses en el 2009, excluyendo
cubano estadounidenses.

El mercado de libros usados y antigüedades de la Plaza de Armas, en el
distrito colonial de La Habana, es un buen lugar para medir el tráfico
de turistas por la capital cubana.

"Hay muchos más. Un grupo de alrededor de 80 estuvieron aquí esta
mañana", dijo Miguel, que vende etiquetas de cigarros de antes de la
revolución de 1959, interrogado sobre la presencia de estadounidenses.

Trabajadores, el semanario de la oficial Central de Trabajadores de
Cuba, publicó el lunes en su portada un artículo sobre la ampliación de
una terminal del aeropuerto internacional de La Habana dedicada
exclusivamente a los viajes hacia y desde Estados Unidos. La capacidad,
dijo, será duplicada para Navidad.

García, de Marazul, dijo que los viajes directos a Cuba desde Estados
Unidos aumentarían un 30% en el 2011.

Pero el próximo gran salto vendría con la autorización para que los
estadounidenses viajen a Cuba, una propuesta que se empantanó este año
en el Congreso y parece tener pocas posibilidades de ser aprobada en el
2011 cuando asumirá una nueva legislatura controlada por los republicanos.

Los defensores de liberar los viajes esperan al menos que el presidente
Obama flexibilice un poco más las restricciones para los contactos
persona a persona con Cuba, algunos de ellos impuestos por la
administración de George W. Bush.

http://www.cubaencuentro.com/cuba/noticias/fuerte-aumento-en-viajes-de-eeuu-a-cuba-en-2010-250417

Iran helping Venezuela to supply gas to Cuba

Iran helping Venezuela to supply gas to Cuba

Under a recently signed letter of intent, Iran LNG Co. commits to
continuing construction of a gas liquefaction plant in Venezuela, which,
in turn, will allow Cuba to source gas from the South American country.
In a previous story we erroneously reported that Iran is planning to
directly export LNG to Cuba. This updated story sets the record
straight. We regret the error.

Iran is continuing to help Venezuela export liquefied natural gas to
Argentina and Cuba, Iran's Mehr news agency reported, citing the
managing director of Iran LNG Company.

The Mehr report said Iran LNG Co.-led construction of what is apparently
the first train of a two-train, 10 million-ton LNG plant in Venezuela is
40 percent complete. The facility will allow Venezuela to supply gas to
Argentina and Cuba.

Venezuela has long-term agreements to supply both Latin American
countries with natural gas beginning in 2013, according to Mehr.

According to LNG World News, under a letter of intent signed with
Venezuela in October, the Iranian state company commits to front-end
engineering and design of what is apparently the second, 5 million-ton
train of the 10 million-ton liquefaction plant.

Neither Iran LNG Co. nor Venezuelan oil and gas company PdVSA responded
to inquiries by Cuba Standard.

In April 2009, Iran LNG signed an agreement to begin research on an $8
billion, 10-million ton LNG plant in Venezuela. The plant was planned to
begin operating in 2014. However, according to previous press reports,
construction has been slow, due to financing problems.

On the Cuban side, a gas project is reportedly moving ahead.
Cuvenpetrol, a joint venture of the Venezuelan and Cuban state oil
companies, agreed this year to build a $400 million, 2-million ton
regasification plant at the Port of Cienfuegos in Cuba. A subsidiary of
Chinese state oil company CNPC will build the complex.

Most of the gas will be used in Cuban power plants. Unión Nacional
Eléctrica is currently converting at least three thermoelectric power
plants to gas.

In the long-term Cuba plans to fuel its power plants with domestically
produced natural gas. In the meantime, Cuba will source the fuel from
Venezuela, and possibly Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea,
Algeria and Angola.

http://www.cubastandard.com/2010/12/06/iran-helping-venezuela-to-supply-gas-to-cuba/

Chávez pone en marcha una empresa mixta pesquera con La Habana

Economía

Chávez pone en marcha una empresa mixta pesquera con La Habana
Agencias
Caracas 06-12-2010 - 11:23 am.

'Bolívar y Martí se unen nuevamente (…) para ir a pescar juntos (...)
por la alimentación de este pueblo', dijo el embajador cubano en Caracas.

El presidente de Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, encabezó este domingo el acto
de salida de dos buques pesqueros industriales hacia el Pacífico, que
forman parte de la empresa mixta cubano-venezolana Pescalba, reportó EFE.

Chávez explicó que estas embarcaciones pertenecen a la empresa mixta
socialista, creada en el marco de la Alianza Bolivariana para los
Pueblos de América (ALBA), fundada por La Habana y Caracas, y la que
también pertenecen Nicaragua, Bolivia, Ecuador, San Vicente y Las
Granadinas, Dominica y Antigua y Barbuda.

Los buques llevan los nombres de los próceres de la independencia de
Venezuela, Simón Bolívar, y Cuba, José Martí, y navegarán por el océano
Pacífico donde pescarán jurel, según la información oficial.

El embajador de Cuba en Venezuela, Rogelio Polanco, acompañó a Chávez en
el acto y declaró que "Bolívar y Martí se unen nuevamente en una alianza
que se mantiene ahora más latente que nunca, para ir a pescar juntos
(...) por la alimentación de este pueblo".

El mandatario venezolano, desde el buque Simón Bolívar, indicó que "este
era un barco de pesca soviético que fue fabricado en 1988", fue
adquirido el 5 de marzo pasado y "repotenciado" recientemente en Venezuela.

La embarcación "costó 33 millones de dólares", dijo, y exhortó a los
trabajadores de la empresa mixta socialista a que se informen acerca de
todos los datos sobre Pescalba "porque dejaron de ser esclavos", afirmó.

Cada buque funciona con un centenar de tripulantes, 50 por ciento
cubanos y 50 por ciento venezolanos, y tienen capacidad para almacenar
hasta 180 toneladas de pescado congelado, informaron a Chávez los
tripulantes.

Los barcos, de 120 metros de largo y 19 de ancho cuentan, además, con
una fábrica para el procesamiento de pescado.

Chávez recordó que Pescalba ya tiene seis barcos que se dedican a la
pesca de atún.

http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/2028-chavez-pone-en-marcha-una-empresa-mixta-pesquera-con-la-habana

Cuba gives space to small businesses

5 December 2010 Last updated at 01:02 GMT
Cuba gives space to small businesses
By Michael Voss BBC News, Havana

The village of El Cano, on the outskirts of Havana, has been producing
pottery since Spanish colonial times. It is surrounded by rich deposits
of clay and today it remains a hive of activity.

Walk along its dusty streets and on every block there are houses selling
flower pots and other unglazed ceramics from their front porches.

In the back yards, smoke from the wood-fired brick kilns drifts across
sweaty workshops nestling between banana and palm trees and other lush,
semi-tropical vegetation.

These small, family-run businesses are a rarity in Cuba, where 85% to
90% of the economy is state-owned.

Alberto Araguez has a licence, or permit, from the authorities to
produce and sell roof tiles and pots.

His is one of about 60 such businesses in the village. Half are
licensed, half are not.

Now that President Raul Castro has announced that he will expand the
island's fledgling private sector, the potters of El Cano are hoping to
become a village co-operative.

Alberto Araguez is head of a newly formed potter's association, which is
negotiating with the authorities.

"It would be good for this community to legalise the situation. We could
also provide jobs for those workers being laid off and everyone would be
able to continue supporting their families," Mr Araguez explained.

This time, he believes, the government is serious about change.
Ideological divide

Cuba's centrally controlled, state-run economy was struggling even
before the global financial crisis hit.

It can no longer afford its heavily subsidised, cradle-to-grave welfare
state or the inefficiencies of a bloated workforce with jobs for life.

Borrowing is not an option. The United States trade embargo denies Cuba
access to major lending institutions, such as the International Monetary
Fund or the Inter-American Development Bank.

Instead, Raul Castro is now attempting to rationalise and overhaul the
island's Soviet-era economic model.

Half-a-million underemployed state workers are due to lose their jobs in
the coming months. To help take up the slack the government will permit
about 250,000 people to become self-employed or start small businesses.

This is not a return to capitalism and it remains a long way short of
the Chinese and Vietnamese market reforms.

In the introduction to a new 32-page report outlining the proposed
economic changes the government made clear that "in updating the
economy, model planning will be paramount, not the market".

However, it does cross some important ideological divides, including the
right to hire labour, which is deemed as "exploitation" and banned under
the constitution.

Yet few of the potteries in El Cano could survive without additional labour.

Changing attitudes

Nelson Alicia is learning the trade in another of the village workshops,
doing everything from mixing clay into the right consistency to
wheel-throwing techniques.

One of five apprentices, the 21-year-old is earning double what he would
if he was working for the state. The new regulations are intended to
formalise the arrangement but come at a hefty price.

Nelson will have to pay between 25% and 50% of his earnings in tax, plus
an additional 25% in social security payments.

"It is a lot," he says. "But at least now we won't have to hide when the
inspectors come. Before we used to turn everything off and keep quiet.
Now if they give us licences we won't have to work in secret."

The government has published a list of 178 trades where Cubans can apply
to become self employed or run small businesses. In about half of these
cases they will be allowed to hire labour.

The list includes carpenters, plumbers and accountants, although many of
the permitted jobs, such as party clowns, park attendants and parking
wardens, will have little major impact on the economy.
Black economy

Almost 80,000 people have applied in the past month and about 30,000
have already been granted licences, according to the official newspaper
Granma.

Many want to open cafes or other forms of catering. Others are seeking
permission to rent spare rooms to these new fledgling entrepreneurs.

In a country where people are not allowed to buy or sell property, the
new rules should enable a small private and commercial rental market to
develop.

The largest number of applications has come from retirees looking to
supplement their pension.

In many other cases they are people who are already working in the black
economy and are looking to legalise their situation.

This isn't the first experiment with small businesses.

After the collapse of the island's main benefactor, the Soviet Union,
some private enterprise was allowed. This was mainly in the much needed
tourist sector, such as family-run guest houses and restaurants.

However, they were always treated as necessary evils and as soon as the
economy improved, they were squeezed with red tape and punitive taxes,
forcing many to close down.

From a peak of 208,000 self-employed in 1996 just 143,000 remained in
business at the beginning of this year.

This time, though, the government has said that the self employed should
"no longer be stigmatised", suggesting that these changes could be more
permanent.

President Castro knows that improving the economy is critical if the
socialist revolution is to survive once the ageing leadership which
created it is gone.

"Today, more than ever before, the economic battle is the principal task
and the focus of the cadres' ideological work, because the
sustainability and the preservation of our social system depend on it,"
he said in a recent televised speech.

Mr Castro has now set a date in April 2011 for the first Communist Party
Congress to be held in 14 years.

This should give the ideological stamp of approval to push ahead with
these and other changes.

For the potters of El Cano it can't come a moment too soon."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11910281

Irán dice que exportará gas licuado a Argentina y Cuba a través de Venezuela

Irán dice que exportará gas licuado a Argentina y Cuba a través de Venezuela
04-12-2010 / 20:40 h

Teherán, 4 dic (EFE).- Irán exportará gas natural licuado a Cuba y
Argentina a través de una planta que está construyendo en Venezuela,
anunció hoy el director de la Compañía iraní de LNG (gas licuado), Alí
Kheyrandish.

"El mercado sudamericano de exportación de LNG es prioritario para Irán.
Actualmente, Venezuela tiene contratos a largo plazo con Argentina y
Cuba", explicó.

"De acuerdo con el pacto alcanzado, el abastecimiento de gas licuado a
Argentina y Cuba se hará desde la planta que Irán construye en la región
venezolana de Delta Cariba, cuya capacidad de producción rondará los 5.4
millones de toneladas al año", agregó Kheyrandish, citado por la agencia
de noticia sindical Ilna.

El subsuelo de Irán esconde las segundas mayores reservas probadas de
petróleo y gas del mundo.

Años atrás, el régimen iraní descubrió el yacimiento de gas de "South
Pars", que explota junto a Qatar y que según los expertos alberga un
ocho por ciento de las reservas mundiales.

Según las autoridades iraníes, el país planea producir cerca de 70
millones de toneladas cúbicas de gas natural en 2015, lo que le
convertiría uno de los mayores exportadores del planeta y para lo que
tiene en marcha siete nuevos proyectos.

Argentina e Irán rompieron sus relaciones después de que Buenos Aires
acusara al régimen iraní de estar detrás del atentado que en 1994 mató a
casi un centenar de persona en el centro cultural judío (AMIA) de la
capital sudamericana.

http://www.abc.es/agencias/noticia.asp?noticia=615129

Cuba sees new entrant to local cruise industry

Cuba sees new entrant to local cruise industry
Malaysia News.Net
Saturday 4th December, 2010

Cuba is hoping to grow its cruise industry on the back of growing demand
and the arrival of a new ship using Havana as a home base.
The arrival of the 800-capacity Spanish cruise ship Gemini in the Cuban
port of Havana Bay may be a sign of better days ahead for the Cuban
cruise industry, which has suffered badly in recent years.

In 2005, Cuba was visited by 102,000 cruise passengers, but by 2007 that
figure had fallen to 11,000 and kept falling through 2009. Cuba has
never been a major Caribbean destination due in large part to the 1960s
US trade embargo.

The Caribbean cruise market is dominated by US cruise lines, notably
Carnival, and the US embargo forbids US companies from trading with Cuba
and prevents ships that have visited Cuba from entering US waters for
six months.

Cuba's cruise industry was therefore set back when the Spanish cruise
company Pullmantur was bought by Royal Caribbean Cruises, a US-based
company. This vastly reduced the countries cruise business as Pullmentur
was one of the only companies basing their cruises out of the Communist
island.

UK-based Thomson Cruises has been using Havana as a home port for some
of its Caribbean cruises, but recently announced it would be relocating
to the Barbados in 2012.

However, the Gemini, run by Spanish start-up Happy Cruises, may replace
the lost business and lay the groundwork for future expansion.

Cuba earned US $2 billion from tourist revenue in 2009, making the
industry one of the primary means of hard currency for the isolated
island government.

http://www.malaysianews.net/story/715597

Iran Exports Gas to Argentina and Cuba

Iran Exports Gas to Argentina and Cuba
12/4/2010 12:28

According to the contract terms of Iran LNG project, established with a
10 percent share of Venezuelan National Oil Company, Iran will start
exporting LNG to Argentina and Cuba.

Ali Kheirandish, the managing director of Iran's LNG Company noted that
South America will be one of the target markets for exporting Iran's
natural gas and it will start exporting LNG to Argentina and Cuba.

Venezuela has a long term contract with Argentina and Cuba and has to
supply these countries' required gas by 2013, he said. "With the
agreements reached between Iran and Venezuela, the gas provided to
Argentina and Cuba will be partly provided by Iran's LNG plant," he added.

Kheirandish noted that 40 percent of the construction for Iran's LNG
plant has been completed and said: "50 percent of the project will be
completed by the end of Iranian calendar year (March 2011) according to
the timetable."

According to the Letter of Intent signed between Iran and Venezuela, an
Iranian LNG plant will be established in Venezuela with an annual
production capacity of 5.4 million metric tones of natural gas. Iran
will also help Venezuela to build a LNG plant in Delta Caribe area,
according to the LOI signed by the two countries' oil ministers.

http://www.mojnews.com/en/Miscellaneous/ViewContents.aspx?Contract=cms_Contents_I_News&r=641693

Cuba mulls embracing market economy -- of a sort

Cuba mulls embracing market economy -- of a sort
Published: Dec. 3, 2010 at 7:06 PM

HAVANA, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- Cuba is actively considering political and
economic changes that aim to transform its centrally monitored socialist
economy into a market economy that may have more in common with China
than any of the industrial countries.

The first inkling of the planned exploratory foray came after news the
government had ordered a "debate" on capitalism and "the future of the
Cuban nation."

Cuba has been struggling with the effects of a global economic slowdown
and restrictive government policies that prevented the country from
responding to the downturn in a way that could help its recovery.

Cuba's thriving "informal" economy has already responded to capitalism
in more ways than the government wants to acknowledge.

As in China, the Cuban old guard is coming round to the idea of some
limited experimentation with capitalism so long as it doesn't compromise
their revolutionary ideals.

Official comments on the impending change said the government would take
measures to preserve victories of the revolution -- an indication that
any shift toward capitalism would be cautious and guarded.

As one of the first steps, the government plans to liberalize private
enterprise -- though only up to a point -- recognize ownership rights
for small farmers and make the state democracy more efficient.

Government efficiency plans call for cutting back on jobs -- a
potentially troublesome option amid tough economic conditions. Officials
have suggested up to half a million government jobs may be on the line.

In the meantime, Cubans have been given the opportunity to sound off on
issues of national importance between December and February 2011. They
will be able to make recommendations at meetings of party organizations,
unions, neighborhood groups and workplace groups.

The state newspaper Granma in an editorial said, "Nobody should remain
with an unexpressed opinion, much less be prevented from expressing it."

It explained, "The Party demands the maximum transparency from all its
organizations, the greatest clarity in analysis, the clarification of
all doubts and anxieties we may have within the bosom of the Revolution."

"At stake is the future of the Cuban nation," Granma said.

Critics remain skeptical about the debate, however. Cuba allows only one
political party, the Communist Party, but the state-sponsored comments
indicate a willingness to allow some comment.

Previous attempts at dissent have landed critics of the government in
trouble and many of them remain wary of taking up the offer to make
public their views on the political system.

Recent government admissions cited declining productivity, shortfalls in
infrastructure and inefficiency as among reasons for a review of the system.

Cuba's large debts to foreign exporters and suppliers, although
recognized by officials, are yet to be discussed within any new
framework that includes the country honoring international commitments.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/12/03/Cuba-mulls-embracing-market-economy-of-a-sort/UPI-97291291421174/

Cuba 'actualiza'su economía mirando al libre mercado

Cuba 'actualiza'su economía mirando al libre mercado

Raúl Castro emplazó a que el nuevo modelo económico esté dirigido a la
eficiencia, al ahorro, a la lucha contra la corrupción, la inversión
extranjera y a reducir el "paternalismo estatal".

Cuba ha puesto su mirada en un nuevo modelo económico. Detrás de la
retórica oficial, que defiende el socialismo y la planificación, no el
mercado -se evita cualquier término que suene capitalista- , aparece un
plan que amplía la iniciativa privada, abre la puerta a pequeños
negocios, extiende las fórmulas de gestión empresarial, reduce la
plantilla estatal, recorta gasto social y suprime "subsidios
innecesarios y gratuidades indebidas".

El régimen cubano lo llama "actualización del modelo económico" y niega
que se trate de una reforma: Cuba seguirá siendo socialista y primará la
planificación, no el mercado.

Los cubanos están ya inmersos en el debate de un proyecto que supone
apertura no sólo económica, sino también de mentalidad. Y no es para
menos porque se enfrentan a conceptos a los que están poco o nada
acostumbrados: impuestos, despidos masivos en el sector estatal,
salarios vinculados a productividad, liquidación de empresas públicas
que arrojen pérdidas sostenidas, contratación de asalariados por
particulares, mercados de precios mayoristas, créditos bancarios,
igualdad de oportunidades versus "igualitarismo"...

"No queda otra alternativa"

Así de tajante ha sido el presidente Raúl Castro ante los dirigentes que
conducirán el debate nacional sobre las reformas. No en vano "la batalla
económica" ha sido la bandera del general Castro desde que llegó al
poder tras la enfermedad que obligó a su hermano Fidel a retirarse en
2006. Batalla para intentar superar una crisis radicalizada en los
últimos años, pero que se remonta a la caída del bloque soviético, que
fue el sostén económico de la isla durante décadas.

El Gobierno achaca la asfixia económica a factores externos e internos.
Entre los primeros cita el "recrudecimiento" del bloqueo que Estados
Unidos mantiene desde hace 50 años y añade los efectos de la crisis
económica internacional. También la meteorología ha jugado en contra:
los 16 huracanes que azotaron la isla entre 1998 y 2008 causaron unas
pérdidas de 20.564 millones de dólares, sin que se hayan cuantificado
aún las que provocaron los de 2009 y 2010.

Pero además se admiten responsabilidades internas que apuntan a la
ineficiencia del sistema económico: excesiva dependencia del exterior,
vulnerabilidad a los vaivenes de los precios internacionales, una base
productiva descapitalizada o el "barbecho crónico" del 50 por ciento de
la superficie agrícola son sólo algunas de sus características.

Algunos datos son más que ilustrativos: desde hace años Cuba tiene que
comprar en el exterior más del 80 por ciento de los alimentos que
consumen sus 11,2 millones de habitantes, lo que supone un gasto de
1.500 millones de dólares anuales. Entre 1997 y 2009 la isla perdió
10.000 millones de dólares por las variaciones de precios en las
exportaciones e importaciones. La producción de azúcar -durante siglos
considerada la "locomotora" económica del país- tuvo en 2010 los
resultados más pobres desde 1905.

Entre las medidas también están potenciar la inversión extranjera, dar
autonomía a las empresas estatales (y liquidará las que arrojen pérdidas
sostenidas); e impulsar las cooperativas en sectores no agrícolas como
la construcción.

Despidos masivos, empleo privado y microempresas

Una de las medidas de mayor impacto dentro del plan de ajuste es la
reordenación laboral que comenzará con el despido de 500.000 empleados
públicos en un plazo de seis meses, el 10 por ciento de la población
ocupada del país.

Raúl Castro quiere desinflar las abultadas plantillas estatales en un
proceso que supondrá a medio plazo la eliminación de más de un millón de
puestos de trabajo.

Como alternativa a esos despidos, se ampliará el empleo privado
("cuentapropismo" en argot cubano) hasta 178 áreas económicas. La medida
en sí misma no constituye una novedad, puesto que ya se ensayó en Cuba
en los años noventa durante el llamado "periodo especial".

Modelo económico "autóctono"

La "actualización" de la economía socialista en Cuba llega en pleno
siglo XXI, décadas después de la caída del bloque soviético y cuando
países como China y Vietnam han aplicado con éxito la apertura de sus
economías socialistas.

Mientras los analistas debaten si las reformas cubanas serán a lo
vietnamita o a lo chino, el presidente Raúl Castro advierte que no va a
copiar a ningún país y que los ajustes son autóctonos.

http://www.portafolio.com.co/internacional/vecinos/cuba-actualizasu-economia-mirando-al-libre-mercado-_8515003-3

Cancelan las licencias a Cupet y otras empresas

Publicado el viernes, 12.03.10
Cancelan las licencias a Cupet y otras empresas
By Agence France Press
LA HABANA

El gobierno de Cuba canceló las licencias de exportación e importación a
15 empresas estatales, incluido el monopolio petrolero Cupet, como parte
de la reforma económica del gobernante Raúl Castro, informó este jueves
la Gaceta Oficial.

``El proceso de reordenamiento de la actividad de comercio exterior
determina la cancelación de facultades a entidades autorizadas para
realizar operaciones de exportación e importación de mercancías'',
explica cada uno de los 15 documentos, según el sitio de la publicación
gubernamental www.gacetaoficial.cu.

El gobierno, que fijó la reorganización del comercio exterior entre las
prioridades de su reforma, no precisó qué entidades serían las
encargadas de realizar ahora las operaciones comerciales de las 15 empresas.

Cupet, que lleva negocios millonarios con Venezuela, factura más de
$1,000 millones de dólares anuales en importación de petróleo
fundamentalmente venezolano --unos $100,000 barriles diarios--, y
exporta pequeñas cantidades del petróleo pesado nacional.

Otras de las empresas con permisos cancelados son Pesca Caribe,
Suministros Marítimos Portuarios, el Instituto del Libro, Corporación
Alimentaria Coralsa, Industrial Herrajes, Fundiciones Vanguardia
Socialista, Procesadora de Soya, Exportadora de Bebidas y Refrescos.

Algunas de esas empresas recibieron las licencias en la década de los
90, como parte de la descentralización del comercio exterior en las
reformas de apertura que se adoptaron durante la crisis posterior al
derrumbe del bloque socialista.

Según el diario Juventud Rebelde, ``de seguro la lista crecerá'', pues
la decisión está ``en frecuencia'' con la ``actualización del modelo
económico'', una serie de reformas propuestas por Raúl Castro para
reanimar la maltrecha economía, que serán refrendadas en el VI Congreso
del gobernante Partido Comunista (PCC, único) en abril.

Con miras al Congreso, el miércoles comenzó un proceso de tres meses de
debate popular del programa económico, que incluye el recorte de empleos
estatales --500,000 hasta marzo del más de un millón previsto--,
apertura a la pequeña iniciativa privada y al capital extranjero,
flexibilización del comercio, eliminación de subsidios y pago de impuestos.

El plan busca ``una mayor racionalidad en la gestión importadora'' y
``una eficaz utilización del poder de compra'' del país'', a través del
reordenamiento de las empresas que realizan actividades de comercio
exterior'', subrayó el rotativo.

En los últimos dos años Raúl Castro aplicó recortes de hasta un 30 por
ciento en las importaciones.

http://www.elnuevoherald.com/2010/12/03/847562/cancelan-las-licencias-a-cupet.html

Anula gobierno de Cuba autorizaciones a 4 firmas de comercio exterior

Anula gobierno de Cuba autorizaciones a 4 firmas de comercio exterior
Editor： Silvia 10:43:25 2010-12-03 / Xinhua

El gobierno cubano canceló la autorización a cuatro empresas cubanas
para realizar actividades de comercio exterior, una medida vinculada a
los empeños de "actualización" del modelo económico isleño, informó hoy
la prensa nacional.

La medida afecta a la Unión Cubapetróleo (CUPET), MOVITEL S.A., el
Instituto Cubano del Libro, la Empresa de Fundiciones Vanguardia
Socialista, y Producciones ABDALA S.A., entre otras 12 compañías.

"Las decisiones reseñadas están en frecuencia con la presente
actualización del modelo económico", señaló el diario "Juventud Rebelde".

Las bases del proyecto de reforma económica están sujetas a un debate
popular en los comités del Partido Comunista, las secciones sindicales y
las comunidades de todo el país para luego ser examinadas y aprobadas en
el congreso de la organización política, en abrilde 2011.

Según resoluciones recién publicadas en la Gaceta Oficial, estas
cancelaciones que ponen fin a las facultades de exportación e
importación de mercancías de entidades de diferentes ramos "son
decisiones que forman parte del actual proceso de reordenamiento de la
actividad de comercio exterior".

"Tras la cancelación, a todas (estas empresas) se les mantendrá durante
90 días su inscripción en el Registro Central de Aduanas, a fin de que
ejecuten operaciones de exportación e importación ya pactadas", precisó
el rotativo.

http://spanish.china.org.cn/international/txt/2010-12/03/content_21474619.htm

Cuba, Venezuela y Angola crean una empresa mixta para producir petróleo

Economía

Cuba, Venezuela y Angola crean una empresa mixta para producir petróleo
Agencias
Caracas 03-12-2010 - 5:05 pm.

La Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela (AN) aprobó la creación de una empresa
mixta petrolera con Cuba y Angola para actividades relacionadas con la
búsqueda de yacimientos de petróleo, extracción de crudo, gas natural
asociado, entre otras, informó la agencia estatal cubana Prensa Latina.

La entidad estará integrada por la Petróleos de Venezuela S. A. (PDVSA),
Cupet y la angoleña Sonangol.

Según una nota de prensa del Ministerio de la Comunicación y la
Información venezolano, PDVSA tendrá una participación del 60 por ciento.

La empresa prevé producir un máximo de 20.000 barriles por día de crudo
con un rango de entre 11 y 16 API (clasificación, según el peso del
petróleo, del American Petroleum Institute) y desarrollará sus
actividades en el estado oriental venezolano de Anzoátegui.

http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1997-cuba-venezuela-y-angola-crean-una-empresa-mixta-para-producir-petroleo

Gobierno cancela licencias de exportación e importación a 15 empresas estatales

Economía

Gobierno cancela licencias de exportación e importación a 15 empresas
estatales

Entre las empresas afectadas está Cupet, que tiene negocios millonarios
con Venezuela en importación de petróleo

Agencias, Madrid | 03/12/2010

El Gobierno de Cuba canceló las licencias de exportación e importación a
15 empresas estatales, incluido el monopolio petrolero Cupet, como parte
de la reforma económica del gobernante Raúl Castro, informó este jueves
la Gaceta Oficial.

"El proceso de reordenamiento de la actividad de comercio exterior
determina la cancelación de facultades a entidades autorizadas para
realizar operaciones de exportación e importación de mercancías",
explica cada uno de los 15 documentos, según el sitio de la publicación
gubernamental http://www.gacetaoficial.cu.

El Gobierno, que fijó la reorganización del comercio exterior entre las
prioridades de su reforma, no precisó qué entidades serían las
encargadas de realizar ahora las operaciones comerciales de las 15 empresas.

Cupet, que lleva negocios millonarios con Venezuela, factura más de
$1.000 millones de dólares anuales en importación de petróleo
fundamentalmente venezolano —unos $100.000 barriles diarios—, y exporta
pequeñas cantidades del petróleo pesado nacional.

Otras de las empresas con permisos cancelados son Pesca Caribe,
Suministros Marítimos Portuarios, el Instituto del Libro, Corporación
Alimentaria Coralsa, Industrial Herrajes, Fundiciones Vanguardia
Socialista, Procesadora de Soya, Exportadora de Bebidas y Refrescos.

Algunas de esas empresas recibieron las licencias en la década de los
90, como parte de la descentralización del comercio exterior en las
reformas de apertura que se adoptaron durante la crisis posterior al
derrumbe del bloque socialista.

Según el diario Juventud Rebelde, "de seguro la lista crecerá", pues la
decisión está "en frecuencia" con la "actualización del modelo
económico", una serie de reformas propuestas por Raúl Castro para
reanimar la maltrecha economía, que serán refrendadas en el VI Congreso
del gobernante Partido Comunista (PCC, único) en abril.

El plan busca "una mayor racionalidad en la gestión importadora" y "una
eficaz utilización del poder de compra" del país", a través del
reordenamiento de las empresas que realizan actividades de comercio
exterior", subrayó el rotativo.

En los últimos dos años Raúl Castro aplicó recortes de hasta un 30% en
las importaciones.

http://www.cubaencuentro.com/cuba/noticias/gobierno-cancela-licencias-de-exportacion-e-importacion-a-15-empresas-estatales-250178

Cuba, N. Korea Owe Russia $37Bln

Cuba, N. Korea Owe $37Bln
01 December 2010

Cuba and North Korea owe Russia a combined $37 billion, more than half
of all foreign assets claimed by the government, according to the
preliminary prospectus for the country's first sale of ruble eurobonds.

Cuba's debt to Russia is $27 billion, while North Korea's is $10
billion, the document shows.

Russia's "external financial assets," including other countries'
liabilities, stood at $62.8 billion on June 30, according to the
marketing materials.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/cuba-n-korea-owe-37bln/425372.html

Viva La Oil Revolution In Cuba!

Viva La Oil Revolution In Cuba!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010

First Russia and now China have joined the growing list of foreign oil
companies looking to profit from Cuba's potential oil wealth.

Earlier this month, Russian state-backed energy firm Gazprom acquired a
30% stake in four offshore oil exploration blocks offshore Cuba. And
now, a unit of China's state-run China National Petroleum Corporation
(CNPC) has won a contract to expand Cuba's Cienfuegos refinery. The deal
involves CNPC developing a power plant and petrochemicals complex and
also building a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal on the same
site.

The CNPC refinery project alone could be worth up to $6 billion and is
part of a broader programme to develop Cuba's energy sector, which has
been long held back by protectionist US sanctions. The deal is also set
to strengthen the Caribbean island's links with China and Venezuela, as
the project will be bankrolled by Chinese loans secured on Venezuelan
oil revenues. The benefit for Cuba is that such links are likely to
allow it to modernise its out-dated refining infrastructure - a process
which is long overdue.

In terms of the numbers, the Cienfuegos refinery is expected to cost a
minimum of $4.5 billion while the LNG terminal would cost an additional
$1.3 billion. Such a high degree of investment by the Chinese - if
completed - could well mark one of the largest ever investments in the
Cuban nation. And as things stand, work on the project is expected to
start at the start of next year, with completion expected by the end of
2013.

On a more qualitative level, the move marks a major step forward for
China in its Latin American energy plans. While for Cuba, the
modernisation of its resources stands to provide an outlet for its hopes
to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico, while also laying the
foundations for the Communist island to become a key oil transport hub
for the broader Caribbean basin.

The deal with Cuba follows similar deals (involving the financing of
projects and inking joint ventures) by the Chinese over the past couple
of years; with other Latin American nations such as Venezuela, Brazil
and Ecuador the partners. The aforementioned projects combined are
expected to bring it at least 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Without doubt, the region has become of heightened importance in terms
of China's overseas energy security policy.

Indeed, RoseAnne Franco, at energy and mining consulting firm Wood
Mackenzie in Houston, goes as far as to say that it is a match made in
heaven: "The regions are clearly of complementary interest. China is
looking for energy security while Latin America is eager for new
consumer capital markets."

All the political jockeying aside, what is the prize at stake? Well, the
Cuban government claims to have at least 20 billion barrels of oil off
its coastline. However, external (US) estimates are rather more
moderate. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that Cuba sits on closer
to just 5 billion barrels of oil.

Either way, should relations between Cuba and its powerful neighbour the
US ever be restored, the Caribbean nation would be perfectly positioned
to supply the energy-hungry US market. No doubt China is happy in the
knowledge that the likelihood of this happening anytime soon is rather slim.

http://www.oilvoice.com/n/Viva_La_Oil_Revolution_In_Cuba/c8ff5ad8c.aspx

Real Estate in Cuba - Still no "groundbreaking" events

Real Estate in Cuba - Still no "groundbreaking" events
Posted November 30, 2010 by Publisher in Business In Cuba
Rob Sequin | Havana Journal

Over promise and under deliver should be the slogan of Leisure Canada.

Perhaps this phrase could serve as a warning to other Cuban real estate
developers looking to start projects in a timely manner on Cuban land.

Of course the Cuban government doesn't do many things quickly and I'm
sure this is partially to blame for the extremely long delay regarding
Leisure Canada's development projects in Cuba but when it comes to
hyping, perhaps even misrepresenting Leisure Canada's state of real
estate development in Cuba, the company is squarely to blame.

Cuba's Real Estate Developer - NOT

Publicly traded Leisure Canada (CVE:LCN) has been touting itself as
"Cuba's leading Real Estate Developer" for many years yet the company
has never broken ground in Cuba. That slogan was prominent on their
website until recently yet the moniker lives on as the title of the
website's home page. Now it claims to be the "A leading Cuban investment
company" and prominently features this image below.

Really? An investor's paradise?

Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the three and nine months
ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 show total revenue of $93,680 with a
net loss of $3,139,032. That's one heck of an investment! The four
largest costs are salaries, rent paid to Cuban government agencies,
general office costs and professional services. Other significant costs
are telecommunications and travel.

Also, a severance package of $226,000 was paid to former Executive
Chairman Wally Berukoff, now with Red Lion Management.

Cash Burn

Don't get me wrong. I am pro-Capitalist and have no problem with any
company investing in future projects or venture capital investing in a
start up business but Leisure Canada is not a start up. It's a publicly
traded company and the company is burning through stockholder value and
not just venture capital.

Recent Developments

The recent press release titled Third Quarter Results regarding its real
estate development projects states that the architectural, engineering
and concept design plans for their hotel development project, in
Havana's Monte Barreto district, have been approved by the Cuban
authorities.

However, In April 2007, almost four years ago, the company was granted
surface rights to the Havana land with a statement saying this would
lead to "groundbreaking of the 238-room Phase One by end of 2007" so
this item is not news. The press release also states that the company
has not even begun to even solicit proposals from contractors to begin
construction. This would appear to be a misrepresentation of the facts.

A positive comment about the Cuban government approving 99 year leases
in the press release is a newsworthy event for Leisure Canada yet the
stock price barely changed on this major announcement.

The release stated "This paves the way for consumers to acquire
leasehold real estate in Cuba under competitive financing conditions
similar to other offerings in Mexico and the Caribbean." I don't know
about other offerings in other countries but we all know Cuba is not
like other countries so to compare real estate in Cuba to real estate in
Mexico and other Caribbean countries also appears to be hype or at least
a misrepresentation of common sense.

Management Statements

Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and nine month
periods ended September 30, 2010 as of November 25, 2010:

The Company's net loss and net loss per share for the nine month period
ended September 30, 2010 was $3,135,837 and $0.02 (per diluted share),
respectively, compared with $1,011,068 and $0.01 (per diluted share)
during the same period in 2009. The significant changes period over
period relate to the increase in consulting fees related to the hiring
of a new CEO and CFO, the recognition of stock based compensation for
new options issued in 2009 and 2010, legal fees incurred with respect to
the termination of certain agreements with the former Executive Chairman
of the Company and with companies controlled by the former Executive
Chairman, and the settlement reached with the former Executive Chairman.

END

Seems to me like the only people making any money from an investment in
Leisure Canada is the senior management and consultants.

New Management Team

>>>In June, long time CEO and Chairman Wally Berukoff stepped down as
Chairman of the Board early October. Apparently this was the beginning
of the transition to the new management team.

>>>Ned Goodman of Dundee Corporation was brought in as Chairman
recently in October. In January his company was retained at a cost of
$200k for consulting services.

>>>Robin Conners was named in as CEO in August 2009 but may not have
had control of the company until Mr. Berukoff resigned in June.

Leisure Canada Summary

Perhaps the company is in transition now that Mr. Berukoff is gone. If
so, they have the burden of the past to overcome. However, they should
also have the benefit of a ten year history of project planning (not
development) in Cuba. So, breaking ground on any project in Cuba would
certainly be a victory for Leisure Canada. However, should another Cuban
real estate developer break ground on a major project before Leisure
Canada does so in Cuba, I think that would be seen as a huge failure in
the company's current management.

You can see all the Leisure Canada press releases if you want to follow
the financials and management changes.

Cuba Real Estate Development Projects

Monte Barreto

The Company and its joint venture, Bellavista Resorts SA has registered
surface rights and development rights. Complete architectural,
engineering and concept design plans have been approved by the Cuban
authorities and all three phases of this project will be built
concurrently. Specifications and project information have been compiled
in order to begin a Request for Proposal process to select a general
contractor.

The Company is also studying alternatives to underground parking and is
working on detailed design components of the project and establishing a
proactive value engineering analysis. Under the development agreement
reached with the Cuban government, the Company through its subsidiary
Wilton Properties Inc. has to match in costs the value of the land
contributed by the Cuban Government of $10,350,000, after which costs on
the project will be split 50-50.

Jibacoa

The Company is continuing discussions with the Cuban authorities and
officials in charge of tourism and foreign investment regarding the
approval of certain feasibility studies submitted to the Cuban
government and clarifying the recent announcements from the Cuban
government allowing the construction and sale of residential real estate
associated with resort and golf projects. The Company is awaiting the
formal approval from the Cuban authorities on the preliminary master
plan and development program for Jibacoa. The specific joint venture for
this property has been created and the Company is renewing its
development rights and is proceeding towards the registration of its
surface rights in light of the new 99-year residential leases recently
announced by the Cuban government.

Cayo Largo

In September 2009, the Company received the authorization from the Cuban
Government on the preliminary master plan and renewed development rights
and to proceed with the land development process on 260,000 m2 of
beachfront property and in December 2009, the Company received site
approval. We have commenced program design for an eco-resort of
approximately 400 rooms and the Company is currently engaged in economic
feasibility studies. The Company is proceeding with the creation of a
specific joint venture for this property and the registration of its
surface rights.

Risks and Uncertainties

Country Risk

Taken from same Management Discussion paper, "The Company's financial
position and its development projects may be affected by political or
economic instability. These risks include exposure to fluctuations in
currency exchange rates and high rates of inflation. While the Cuban
Government is currently seeking to encourage foreign investment by
removing certain restrictions on foreign investments and permitting
foreign entities to repatriate profits from Cuba, there can be no
assurance that this trend will continue.

Operations may be affected by varying degrees by such factors as
government regulations with respect to price controls, income taxes,
expropriation of property, environment legislation, land use, water use
and land claims of Cuban nationals. The effect of these factors cannot
be accurately predicted.

The Company is also dependent on the Cuban economy, which itself is
highly dependent on external factors such as commodity pricing of oil
and nickel, and the state of the world tourism market."

My comment - Is Cuba somewhat to blame here? Of course. There have many
news story in 2010 about the Cuban government reviewing and/or approving
a variety of new Cuban golf course and vacation resorts complemented by
Cuban villas and real estate "for sale", none have broken ground yet.
Trying to develop golf resorts in a Communist country with a centrally
controlled economy is certainly like pushing a rock up hill. Leisure
Canada should know this and not over-hype their development status. They
are a publicly traded corporation with a responsibility to their
shareholders.

Cuban Law and Commercial Practice

As is the case in many developing states, the commercial legal
environment in Cuba is in a formative stage and accordingly, the legal
rights of the Company and its subsidiaries may not be enforceable in
Cuba to the same extent as they would be in a fully developed
industrialized state, parliamentary democracy or market economy. The
Company's Development Agreement with Cuba provides for arbitration of
disputes in Cuba and Cuba has, in the past, properly submitted to
commercial arbitration and agreed to abide by the results thereof, but
there can be no assurance that it will do so in the future.

Also, since Gran Caribe is an agency of the Cuban government, it may
make decisions with respect to the development properties which are
driven by non-commercial considerations. There can be no assurance,
therefore, that actions by Gran Caribe, in respect of the Company's
joint venture, will always be in the best interests or consistent with
the interests of the Company.

Financial Risk

Under the Company's Development Agreement with Cuba, Wilton is
responsible for obtaining 50% of the financing of each development
project by way of third party debt financing, with the remaining 50% to
be contributed equally by way of equity from Gran Caribe and Wilton. If
Wilton is unable to obtain such debt financing on reasonable commercial
terms, Gran Caribe and Wilton must contribute equally by way of equity,
the entire amount required for such development project.

If either Gran Caribe or Wilton fails to contribute its portion of the
required equity, the other party may make a loan to the defaulting party
or may contribute the amount of the equity required directly to the
subsidiary and subsequently dilute the defaulting party's share in such
development project. There is no guarantee or assurance that the Company
will be able to arrange third-party debt financing for 50% of the cost
of each development project. There is also no guarantee or assurance
that the Company will have or be able to raise the amount it will be
required to contribute to any given development project in equity.

If Wilton is unable to contribute its equity portion to any given
development project, Gran Caribe is entitled under the Development
Agreement to dilute Wilton's interest in such development project. There
is also no guarantee or assurance that Gran Caribe will have or be able
to contribute its portion of equity required to finance any given
development project, in which case Wilton would be required to
contribute the entire amount required to finance the development
project. There is no assurance that the Company will have or be able to
obtain the equity required to any development project on its own.

The Company has made significant progress in arranging prospective
sources of financing for its development projects, but definitive terms
and conditions, and agreements reflecting these, have not been
finalized. There is no assurance that those terms, conditions and
agreements acceptable to the Company will be completed on a timely basis.

US Laws Relating to Cuba

The various U.S. laws and regulations establishing the embargo have been
amended from time to time, including the Cuban Liberty and Democratic
Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, also known as the Helms-Burton Act
("Helms-Burton Act"), which extended the reach of the U.S. embargo. As a
result, the Company is affected by these changing political and legal
relationships between the U.S. and Cuba. Although the Company monitors
and analyzes the potential impact of any anticipated changes and
generally prepares to capitalize on any future opportunities or mitigate
any increased risks, there is no assurance that the Company will not be
adversely affected by changes in U.S. laws.

The Company is currently prohibited from accessing U.S. capital, debt,
customers and suppliers, which limits its ability to mitigate the
financial risks described above.
We have made every effort to ensure that the Company's development
projects are located on land which will not be subject to a claim which
has been certified by the U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, the
body responsible for dealing with U.S. nationals whose Cuban properties
were confiscated by the Cuban government. However, there is no assurance
that claims will not come to the attention of the Company or the U.S.
government in the future.

The Company and its subsidiaries do not hold assets located in the U.S.
The Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada) provides that any
judgment given under the Helms-Burton Act will not be recognized or
enforceable in any manner in Canada. It also allows a Canadian
corporation to sue and recover, in Canada, any loss or damage it may
have suffered by reason of the enforcement of a Helms-Burton Act
judgment abroad.

Summary

So, are you ready to buy some Leisure Canada stock? Are you ready to
invest in Cuban real estate development projects?

The Carbonera Club project has been offering Cuban villas for sale yet
there is no groundbreaking date for that project that I know of. To be
fair, I have not heard of ANY groundbreaking of any new golf, course,
marina or resort project in Cuba.

The biggest hotel owner/manager is Sol Melia in Cuba. I don't think any
foreign company comes close to Sol Melia with regards to a foreign
business in the tourism industry. The company will be opening yet
another Cuban hotel by the end of this year.

Since joint ventures are required for ALL development projects and since
qualified large-scale construction contractors in Cuba are selected by
the Cuban government, we may not see any ground breaking on any project
for not just months but perhaps years.

http://havanajournal.com/business/entry/real-estate-in-cuba-still-no-groundbreaking-events-392/

Digital Central to Increase Phone Services in Cuba

Digital Central to Increase Phone Services in Cuba

SAGUA La GRANDE, Villa Clara, Dec 1 (acn) Cuban Telecommunications
Company ETECSA recently finished installing a digital central in Sagua
La Grande that will allow a remarkable increase in the telephone
services in the town, located in the province of Villa Clara.

Cuban News Agency

ETECSA's head of the development department in Villa Clara, Yunieski
Bermudez, told ACN the modern technology has a capacity for 900
landlines that will be used for private clients.

More than half of the central's capacity will be used to change the
alternative wireless services provided to a number of clients (limited
to 400 minutes a month) into regular landlines, said Bermudez, who went
on to explain that the action also looks to make the most of the system.

In addition, more than 400 families will be benefited with the regular
telephone service.

ETECSA is also working in the setting of similar centrals in the town of
Vueltas and a highly populated neighborhood of the city of Santa Clara
known as El Condado.

According to official figures, the number of conventional telephone
lines installed in Villa Clara nearly doubled up from 2004 to the end of
2009, when the company (the only one providing the service in the country)
had 60,000 clients.

In the same period, the telephone service rate for every 100 people grew
from 7.5 to 15.5, showing a steady development in the sector.

http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu/idioma/ingles/2010/1201digital-central-increase-phone-services-cuba.htm

Opositores presentan demandas para garantizar las libertades y sanear la economía

Reformas económicas

Opositores presentan demandas para garantizar las libertades y sanear la
economía
Agencias
La Habana 30-11-2010 - 11:58 pm.

Se trata del documento 'Futuro para Cuba', que reclama revisar y
eliminar prohibiciones.

Representantes de grupos de oposición formularon un paquete de demandas
al gobierno de Raúl Castro para garantizar las libertades individuales y
sanear la economía de la Isla, reportó Notimex.

En un documento de 20 puntos titulado Futuro para Cuba, reclamaron
revisar y eliminar prohibiciones cuya abolición contribuiría además a
eliminar fuentes de corrupcioó e ilegalidad, y reducir la población
penal vinculada a delitos.

El texto está suscrito, entre otros, por Martha Beatriz Roque, Vladimiro
Roca, Idania Yanes y Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique.

Ramos fue puesto en libertad el pasado 14 de noviembre como parte de los
acuerdos entre el gobierno y la Iglesia Católica para excarcelar a 75
disidentes presos desde la primavera de 2003.

Entre los puntos de la demanda, que será presentada ante la Oficina de
Atención a la Población, del Consejo de Estado, figuran la inversión de
cubanos en pequeñas empresas, incluso asociados con extranjeros, y su
libre contratación laboral.

También la libertad de viaje y movimiento dentro del país, la venta y
traspaso de vehículos, libre contratación de deportistas para que puedan
jugar en ligas profesionales y el cese de los decomisos de bienes y
medios a las personas detenidas.

"La mayoría de estas propuestas están vinculadas a la propiedad personal
y la libertades individuales", dijo a Notimex Vladimiro Roca y añadió
que en otro bloque se solicitará el derecho a fundar medios propios de
expresión como revistas, periodicos o semanarios.

Los peticionarios también opinaron que el gobierno debería permitir que
la oposición realice reuniones públicas para conocer los criterios de la
población sobre estos temas.

Según Roca, la demandas no tienen que ver con los temas que se abordarán
en el VI Congreso del Partido Comunista, en abril próximo, pero
"indirectamente traerían un alivio sustancial a algunos estratos
sociales y en otros casos a toda la poblacion".

El gobierno de Castro ha convocado al congreso partidista para debatir y
aprobar los futuros lineamientos de la política económica y social con
vistas a "actualizar" el actual sistema socialista.

http://www.diariodecuba.com/cuba/1950-opositores-presentan-demandas-para-garantizar-las-libertades-y-sanear-la-economia