Cuba ratifies multi-stakeholder participation in development strategy

By Roberto Morejón

Rearranging and creating more favorable conditions for their operation, in accordance with the law, is the spirit of the new regulations in Cuba regarding non-state economic actors.

Several regulations for the private sector, initially announced by the government, took the form of decrees and were approved by the Council of State.

These are legal guidelines to regulate the performance of non-state economic actors, MSMEs, micro, small and medium enterprises, self-employment and non-agricultural cooperatives.

The new regulations and approaches were not imposed abruptly, but were discussed with state agencies, local governments, and representatives of the private sector.

Previously, the aforementioned entities had been informed of the limit on profits in their dealings with state-owned companies, a way of detecting excessive payments.

In this way, the Cuban government is trying to correct what it calls distortions in the performance of non-state enterprises.

Attention was drawn to the complementary role with respect to the state-owned company, which is emphasized by the regulations with respect to these actors, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic.

Contrary to the opinion expressed by some people in social networks, the current regulations do not imply competition with the private sector, but in the midst of accentuated economic difficulties, leading to material shortages and even hardships, due to the intensified US blockade and internal mistakes, the country considers the private sector as a support for the economy.

As a result, the Cuban people listened attentively to the statements made by high-ranking officials regarding adjustments to the plan and the concentration of limited resources on programs aimed at producing basic goods and providing essential services, which are currently being severely affected.  

The Cuban government reiterated that the controls on the exercise of non-state activities are aimed at regularizing them so that they are consistent with the plans for overcoming the current adverse circumstances.