Non-Agricultural Co-ops Authorized in Cuba

HAVANA TIMES  — The Cuban government has authorized the creation of non-agricultural cooperatives in sectors such as transportation, fisheries and services, reported Granma newspaper.

The rules and regulations adopted this past September to regulate this form of non-state management are contained in five legal regulations, explained Ruben Toledo, a member of Model Management Group who spoke at a press conference on Wednesday.

Beginning this coming January, the new cooperatives (about 230 in the first phase) will not operate under the control of state enterprises and the prices of their products and services will be determined by market forces.

The Cuban government projects that over the next five years, production by non-state entities will represent up to 45 percent of the country’s economy, reported Granma.