Havana, September 10 (RHC) -- Cuba is going for new investment in the national sugar industry, for the increase and sustainability of the production of sugar and by-products, among them alcohol, energy and food for animals.

Pedro Perez, director of Investments of Cuban sugar industry group AZCUBA, told Prensa Latina that factors such as modernization of distilleries, construction of new plants for products such as honey, fodder and others, are also included.

The introduction in recent years of more than 100 Brazilian high production harvesting machines and trucks which help to improve operations, is also part of the objectives.

Specialists of the combined machine factory in Holguín, in the east of the country, and China, jointly developed a cane harvester prototype, which was tested during the previous harvest at the Antonio Guiteras sugar mill.

Also, regarding the mechanized sugar cane harvest, Perez added that the evaluations will continue, in order to see the possibility of continuing the construction with the participation of both nations.

Among the main investments made, mainly for the process of sugarcane production in the last five years, there is also the introduction of modern techniques for supplying water to plants, including a drip system.

Perez stressed the priority of the cane production, and then to produce primary sugar, animal feed, energy and other sub-products.