Manuel Marrero Cruz, member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister, assured today that the contribution of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex) is essential in the fulfilment of the government’s programme to revive the economy and eliminate distortions.

In the presence of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, First Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee and President of the Republic, Marrero summed up the balance of the Mincex, to whose cadres he asked to strengthen the leading role of the agency in conducting, advising and demanding everything related to these activities and international cooperation.

He stressed that in such a vital task as the collection of foreign currency for the country, it is urgent to use all intelligence and creativity, to ensure the collection of accounts and the effectiveness of the external business system, and to put an end to trends such as importing goods and services that can be produced in Cuba.

Anyone who engages in foreign trade, foreign investment and international cooperation must abide by the rules of this body, the Prime Minister pointed out, as well as providing guidance on how best to market exportable items and imbue them with added value.

He stressed the need for non-state economic actors to import raw materials, fertilisers, animal feed and other products that contribute to reviving the economy, and that within the decentralisation of their powers and autonomy, the municipalities can export.

He also called for a more active role of the ministry in assessing the effectiveness of trade missions when they travel abroad, and to closely monitor the performance of non-state forms of management in foreign trade and foreign investment, in order to avoid distortions.

The head of government highlighted the critical and self-critical nature of the report presented by Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, head of the Mincex.

The objective and subjective causes of the non-fulfilment of export and import plans in 2024, mainly due to the low levels of production of items such as nickel, honey and sugar, are set out in the report.

Executives and specialists mentioned among the priorities for 2025 the completion of the workforce, streamlining and simplifying the business approval processes with foreign investors, and prioritising the reception and distribution of donations arriving in the country and relations with the main trading partners.

But, as stated at the meeting, progress in fulfilling the government’s programme and its pillars also requires updating the Foreign Investment Policy and the export map, harnessing the knowledge sector as a source of revenue, and encouraging the role of cadres and youth, among other challenges.