To revitalise wholesale trade in the country and offer more favourable prices to the population and economic actors, the AbastoCU Market Project was created, an initiative that envisages the creation of a physical and digital space where sellers and buyers will converge to carry out multiple commercial transactions under the principle of supply and demand.

The project will be developed in seven fundamental steps, ranging from promoting the market to establishing its internal operating rules.

According to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, among the steps to be followed is the identification of establishments, large warehouses or facilities that have the construction and technological possibilities for the project’s development.

Then, the actors that can manage the market will be identified, a phase in which the Management Model will be defined — in the charge of one or several actors — along with the types of business models and a portfolio of opportunities with the contacts of the marketing companies and entities with facilities.

Subsequently, the market’s participants will be identified, which may be companies, non-state management forms, foreign investment modalities, producers and other authorised actors.

Likewise, the necessary infrastructure and services for the market’s operation will be enabled, and an Identity and Image Manual will be implemented, allowing the visual and communicative presentation of the Abasto.CU Market to be standardised.

Finally, the Internal Operating Rules will be established, regulating wholesale sales, operations in Cuban pesos and foreign currency, and the issuing of invoices in the sales process.

One of the most relevant aspects of this project is that the AbastoCU Market will operate in both Cuban pesos and foreign currency, which will facilitate commercial transactions. In addition, invoices will be issued in the sales process, guaranteeing the formalisation and traceability of commercial operations.

The diversity of participants seeks to encourage competition and broaden the supply of goods and services. Companies, non-state management forms, foreign investment modalities, producers and other authorised actors may take part in the market.

The implementation of the supply markets represents a significant step in updating the economic and social model, in line with the Economic and Social Transformations.

By creating a space where supply and demand interact directly, with prices tending to decrease and with the participation of multiple economic actors, the aim is to strengthen supply chains and benefit both producers and consumers.