Business & Economy

Havana Food Vendor Rehab

The buildings housing most of these bodegas, stores, and market vendor stands show fading paint and structural deterioration. They are dark and humid, some with severely damaged ceilings, causing workers to move products to warehouses at the first sign of rain.

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Global Crisis Clobbers Cuba Too

On a daily basis and in primetime spots, Cuban television has begun featuring the consequences of the economic crisis that is shaking up the world. On the island itself, there has begun discreet talk about how the effects of that downturn is beginning to be felt in an increasingly noticeable way.

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French Drug Co. to Increase Business in Cuba

The French Sanofi Aventis Pharmaceutical Company established a commercial office in the Cuban capital with the aim of expanding its business in the island, begun some 20 years ago, announced Antoine Ortoli, the company’s intercontinental vice president.

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Cuba Dredges Its Bays

For Cuba, where most of the products that it imports and exports pass through ports, improving the conditions of its bays is a necessity. Out of economic need, Cuban authorities undertook a program to reclaim that country’s most important commercial ports.

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New Cuban Central Bank President

Ernesto Medina Villaveiran is the new president of the Central Bank of Cuba, announced the government on Thursday, replacing Ernesto Soberon, who held the key cabinet-level post for the last 15 years.

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Cuba’s Gov. to Close Cubalse Corp.

Cuban authorities ordered the dissolution in 90 days of the Cubalse Corporation, one of the island’s largest state companies. Founded in 1962, Cubalse is devoted to providing services to foreign firms and embassies and to the collection of hard currency through chains of stores, cafeterias, as well as car sales and apartment rentals, reported IPS citing the accredited press in the Caribbean country.

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Energy Cuts, Less Growth

Cuba is not immune to the world economic crisis and the government has announced adjustments for coping, including a reduction in energy consumption and planning for an economy with less growth. The general population to conserve electricity, hinting that a failure to do so could lead to programmed cuts in service.

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Planning & the Market in Cuba

Planning and the market constitute issues of outstanding importance in the current context of the economic transformation that Cuba is undergoing. These are controversial issues around which there is a lack of needed debate, bearing in mind that presently, on occasions, an identity is established between the market and capitalism.

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US Gov. Clampdown on Cuba Business

The US government has imposed a US $110,000 fine on the Dallas, Texas based Varel Holdings Oil Company for exporting technology to Cuba. The Obama administration is the 11th consecutive US government to enforce an economic blockade on Cuba and punish US companies that try to subvert it.

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Cuba Tourism Fair Opens

Cuba is “a complete destination,” said Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero when inaugurating in the Caribbean country’s capital the FITCUBA 2009 Tourism Fair, which is being attended by professionals from 58 countries. He said the island offers safety, cultural diversity, nature, numerous events and health tourism, and nautical activities.

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