The Council of Ministers of Cuba, headed by Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, and directed by Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister, held its ordinary meeting to evaluate economic and social topics, in a context marked by recovery in the east of the country following Hurricane Melissa, sources from the Presidency reported.

The meeting approved the State Budget execution report as of the end of October, presented by Maritza Cruz García, First Vice Minister of Finance and Prices, who stated that a positive impact was observed in revenue collection, associated with tax measures and fiscal control actions.

Joaquín Alonso Vázquez, Minister of Economy and Planning, assessed the revenue and expenditure structure as favourable, although he pointed out failures to meet targets for profit contributions and subsidies, which obliges the redirection of expenditure towards productive activities.

The Council of Ministers also approved the policy for the decentralisation of competences and the transfer of resources to the municipalities, with the objective of strengthening local institutions and boosting own revenues through territorial economic initiatives.

Betsy Díaz Velázquez, Minister of Domestic Trade, presented the report on the regulation of commerce for non-state forms of management, which authorises MSMEs and non-agricultural cooperatives to conduct wholesale trade of raw materials and products linked to their corporate purpose, establishing contractual relations with state entities and other economic actors.

Mercedes López Acea, President of the National Institute of Non-State Economic Actors, highlighted that the consultation process included concerns and suggestions from representatives of MSMEs and municipal administration councils, which allowed for the adjustment of the regulation to guarantee stable supply and coherence with industrial production.

The Council also evaluated compliance with Law 145 on Territorial and Urban Planning, presented by Raúl Omar Acosta Gregorich, President of the Institute of Territorial and Urban Planning, who acknowledged difficulties in the application of local plans and in the halting of urban planning illegalities.

The session addressed the country’s demographic situation, with projections up to 2050 presented by Juana María Pantoja Hernández, Director of the National Office of Statistics and Information, who alerted about population decline and the need to attend to the economically active population and the elderly.

Walter Baluja García, Minister of Higher Education, reported on the improvement of the teaching of History and Marxism-Leninism in universities, considered essential for the training of young people.

The Council of Ministers awarded the 2024 National Quality Prize to the Mixed Enterprise Alficsa Plus S.A., sponsored by the AzCuba Group, and the Special Mention of Recognition for Excellence 2023 to the National Centre for Minimal Access Surgery.

Finally, the accountability reports of the Ministers of Justice and Culture were approved, along with their corresponding legal opinions.