Havana, Jul 20 (RHC) The Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, explained to the deputies of the Economic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of People's Power the actions implemented after the accountability of that body before the legislature, last December.

In this sense, he pointed out that the efforts seek to solve the difficulties with the officials' preparation to face these processes, the quality of the negotiations, and the agility in carrying out the procedures.

Malmierca said that in the first semester of this year, nine businesses with foreign capital were approved, one of them in the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM).

They are mostly small, with a capital of around 20 million dollars, said the minister, adding that they correspond to food production, mining, industry, wholesale trade, construction, information technology and telecommunications, and biotechnology.

The inclusion of projects with low investment amounts within the country's portfolio of opportunities is one of the lines of action on which we continue to work, said Malmierca, who recalled that the aspiration is to materialize businesses that contribute to municipal development.

Specifically, within the elements updated in the investment policy with foreign capital, he commented that they value the granting of sovereign guarantees for certain agreements of high interest to the nation.

Currently, those who bet on Cuba do so at their own risk, but he explained some businesses are of great importance and for which it is possible to support the partners.

He added that aspects related to the participation of foreign capital in private businesses are also in the definition process, where some experiences could begin soon.

Similarly, they are making progress in the guidelines for possible foreign investment in wholesale and retail trade in the country.

Malmierca said that the Ministry is also working on perfecting the single window operation and taking it to the municipalities.

He also said there are currently 57 projects under negotiation with the conditions to materialize, which could take place in a year and commit capital of almost five billion dollars.