Business & Economy

Cuban President Raul Castro received on Wednesday afternoon in Havana Ms. Ertharin Cousin, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), reported the local media.

The United Nations and Cuban government signed in Havana a strategic cooperation agreement for the period 2014-2018, involving US $151.8 million, reported Diario de Cuba.

Heavy rains in western Cuba caused serious damages to various ecosystems of the region, as well as social and economic facilities, reported Prensa Latina. The constant rain left over 100 and 200 mm of accumulated rain in places like Isabel Rubio, Guane, and San Juan y Martinez, while the prolonged floods “could cause deforestation in certain points.”

Cuba and China signed several agreements to boost bilateral cooperation, including agreements to promote the construction of golf courses on the island, reported DPA news. The construction of golf courses is one of the more recent brainchild’s of Raul Castro’s government as a way to boost tourism.

Inputs and equipment which are currently delivered to Cuban farmers at subsidized prices will begin to be sold “at market prices without subsidies”, said Vice President Marino Murillo Jorge before the Council of Ministers on Friday.

“Cuban homes waste an estimated 22% of the water supply,” said the president of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources. He said that this is due to the deterioration of the domestic pipes, the poor condition of the plumbing fittings, and spills that are generated from elevated or underground tanks.

The Russian company Zarubezhneft and CubaPetróleo agreed to postpone until 2014 their offshore drilling program. Since December 2012, Zarubezhneft has executed drilling in an exploratory well in Block L of Cuba’s offshore platform, with no success thus far.

Cuban authorities ruled out today widespread Internet access to homes on the island, despite the expansion of public infrastructure. “It is foreseen that [someday] Cubans may have a connection at home, but the initial priority is for public access,” at government cybercafés, said Cuban Vice Minister of Communications, Wilfredo Gonzalez Vidal.

The Cuban government announced today that it will expand the supply of public Internet access on the island. The authorities said they will open 118 cybercafes across the country starting on June 4, reported dpa news on Tuesday.

Cuban authorities have detected many problems in Havana involving vulnerabilities of the city to heavy rains, Granma newspaper reported.