9th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
Led by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, the 9th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba was held Wednesday to analyze the progress in the conformation of the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030, the current situation of the Cuban economy and the implementation of the Economic and Social Policy Guidelines of the Party and the Revolution in the period 2016-2021.
The Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil Fernández, informed the members of the Central Committee that progress has been made in the elaboration of the National Economic and Social Development Plan, in which three stages have been considered as the basis for the macroeconomic projection: from 2019 to 2021, from 2022 to 2026, and from 2027 to 2030. With this guiding document, the country has an instrument for planning in the short, medium and long terms.
At present the priority is focused on the first stage for which six strategic sectors have been identified: tourism, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, electro-energy, food production, professional services abroad and construction.
In the case of infrastructure, he pointed out that the National Development Plan should focus mainly on telecommunications and information technology, transport and logistics, as well as hydraulic and sanitary networks.
When making an assessment of the behavior of the Cuban economy, he pointed out that there are financial restrictions and an inefficient fulfillment of the investment process. In addition, exports do not grow with the required dynamics and foreign investment does not reach the levels demanded by the economy.
Faced with this situation, it is necessary to strengthen local development projects; advance in the territories’ self-sufficiency; prioritize productive linkages with tourism activities and the Special Zone for Maritime Development; and incorporate into the Economy Plan all investments that generate greater food production, oil exploration, extraction and production, and the use of renewable energy sources.
By 2020 – and in line with the progress of the work of the National Economic and Social Development Plan – the allocation of financial and material resources to the national industry has been identified as a priority, with the aim of making maximum use of the capacities already existing in the country and ensuring productions and services to meet the demands of the domestic economy, especially in food and medicine production, transport, housing and the computerization of society.
Speaking at this point in the meeting, the General of the Army stressed that problems must be faced with the intention of always resolving them, seeking alternatives to the difficulties in each of the country’s territories and not just standing idly by. He recalled the revolutionary war and the constant confrontation with the hostile policy of the U.S. Government, moments in which Cuba has been victorious for not allowing itself to be defeated in the face of problems.
As part of the agenda, Marino Murillo Jorge, head of the Permanent Commission for Implementation and Development, presented a report in which the activities carried out during the past year and the first months of 2019 are included, based on the implementation of the Guidelines during the period 2016-2021.
Forty-seven policies have been approved since March 2018, during the Fifth Plenary Session of the Central Committee, when this issue was evaluated, which proves the broad process carried out ever since. He highlighted in particular that the 13 policies related to science, innovation, technology and the environment are approved.
Among other topics, he referred to the improvement of the work of the Permanent Commission for Implementation and Development; the modifications made to the exercise of freelancing work; and the main transformations that the state business system has undergone with the objective of achieving the required autonomy and efficiency.
The President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, pointed out that in the last eight years 206 policies have been approved, which shows the intense work. Particularly during 2018, more experience and organization has been acquired in the Permanent Commission for Implementation and Development, as well as a greater participation of the agencies of the Central State Administration.
In this regard, he commented on the support that should be given from the Government to the implementation of all policies and insisted on involving jurists in the preparation of policies and the legal norms that support them, which makes it possible for the work to have greater coherence.
He insisted on the importance of defending as a principle that the policy of the Cuban Revolution is one, both for the state and non-state sectors. He also called to continue dynamizing the timetables so that the Guidelines are implemented in the shortest possible time.
After the interventions of the first secretaries of the Party of several provinces, on their work experiences in the territories, related to food production, agriculture and housing construction, the Army General reiterated that we are prepared to face any adversity and highlighted the potential of the country to move forward.
(Taken from Radio Reloj in Spanish)
Written by Radio Grito de Baire
