Business & Economy

When Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff arrives in Cuba for an official visit next Tuesday a meeting with dissidents of the Castro government is not on her agenda.

The first secretary of the Communist Party in Guantanamo province, Luis Torres Iribar, today criticized the sugar industry in that territory for production shortfalls.

Some 530 bank loan applications have been approved just one month after the authorization of this operation, reported officials on the “Mesa Redonda” television news/commentary program.

Cuba will be making substantial investments to increase rice production, having already purchased more than 70 new tractors and 120 harvesters. Cuba currently imports more than half of all its domestically consumed rice.

The western province of Matanzas began implementing a new tourist information system to enhance visits to seldom-visited attractions. After research into the matter, efforts have begun to promote sites like the Palmar de Junco (one of the longest running active baseball stadiums in the world), and the Zapata Marsh Reserve.

The oil rig that will be involved in the offshore drilling project in Cuba, led by the Spanish multinational Repsol, arrived Thursday off the coast of Havana. The moveable rig was built in China at a reported cost of $750 million USD.

The Communications Ministry issued two resolutions this week to reduce the cost of cellphone messaging within Cuba and eliminate the charge on receiving phone calls. Other existing fees will remain unchanged: Sending SMS abroad will continue to cost 1.00 CUC, while receiving messages — both locally and internationally — will remain free.

At least 4,900 Cubans applied for home improvement grants or loans from the government on Monday, the first day that this program began operation.