Statement by the President of Cuba Miguel Diaz- Canel to the Press

The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel BermúdezHe gave a statement to the press team of Presidency of Cuba.

These are the fundamental ideas:

Unity, creativity and defense: the first priority. Faced with external pressures and difficulties that impact the daily lives of Cubans, the president defended the country's capacity for resistance and the need to continue moving forward.

"The United States cannot forgive itself that, at this point, with all the maximum pressure they have exerted, the Revolution still exists and the country continues to function."

"Only a people as heroic as ours can face these situations, survive, and have the will to overcome them."

In this context, defense preparedness remains a strategic priority, strengthening popular participation and protecting the nation.

 

A new impetus for the economy and social development. The planned transformations seek to modernize the Cuban economic model and create conditions for greater productive growth.

"That public debate broadened, strengthened, and reinforced the projections contained in the initial document."

"The most important thing would be that these transformations are understood, shared, defended, and that we go out and implement them with complete efficiency."

The objective is clear: to stimulate production, increase income, and strengthen the capacity to sustain social programs.

"Together we can productively boost the country, create wealth and distribute that wealth with social justice."

"If we don't have wealth, it's very difficult to move forward."

 

Stronger municipalities for a stronger country. One of the main transformations aims to give municipalities greater powers to manage their economic development.

"That the municipality has every possibility of deciding which are its companies, which are its economic actors and how local production systems are built."

"I believe that the country will always be stronger and have greater response capabilities to the extent that the municipalities are also stronger."

The proposals include powers to export, import, attract investment and manage development projects with greater autonomy.

 

The State Enterprise as a key player. The President insisted on strengthening the role of the State Enterprise, providing it with greater management and decision-making capabilities.

"That it works without intermediaries, that it works without meddling in its management."

"Companies will design their salary systems and will have unlimited powers to use their profits."

"They will be able to produce and provide services of everything they are capable of, taking advantage of all their potential without any limits."

The purpose is to place the State Enterprise in more competitive and dynamic conditions within the national economy.

 

Increased agricultural production and food sovereignty. The recovery of food production occupies a central place within the transformations.

"Give land to those who can truly produce it."

"That there be the lowest level of idle land and the highest levels of productivity."

The measures aim to reduce bureaucratic obstacles, facilitate access to inputs, and promote alliances among all actors linked to agricultural production.

"To achieve food sovereignty and be self-sufficient in food production."

 

Foreign trade, investment and new opportunities.

The economic strategy also aims to make foreign trade more flexible and attract new investments.

"It should not be mandatory to export and import through intermediaries."

"Those who import supplies or raw materials for production in Cuba will benefit."

The president also highlighted the expansion of opportunities for foreign investment and the economic participation of Cubans both within and outside the country.

That they can participate as economic actors on equal terms."

 

Energy, innovation and sustainability. Reducing energy dependence and moving towards renewable sources are part of the strategic priorities.

"We are committed to increasing electric mobility."

"To become less and less dependent on electricity generation using fossil fuels."

The energy transformation includes new investments, the expansion of clean technologies, and the domestic manufacturing of associated equipment.

 

More protection for those who need it most. The economic reforms will be accompanied by policies aimed at social protection.

"We are going to gradually move forward by eliminating subsidies for products in order to implement subsidies for people."

"That everything we do contributes to addressing social inequalities and vulnerabilities."

The goal is to ensure more direct and effective care for individuals and families who require support.

 

Tourism, commerce and digital transformation. Tourism and domestic trade are also part of the agenda for change.

"We can't just think about the big chains right now."

"Domestic trade must become an incentive for national production."

The planned measures include new management methods, electronic invoicing, and greater digitization of business processes.

 

Betting on young people and Cuban talent. The protection of human capital is seen as an indispensable condition for development.

"How do we protect our young people's wages, how do we protect them with incentives?"

"That these young people don't have to pursue projects outside the country and have the conditions here to contribute to development."

 

Cuba does not stop. In closing his remarks, Díaz-Canel conveyed a message of confidence and called for collective participation in building solutions.

"The country is not at a standstill. The country is intelligently confronting this entire situation."

"I believe our response must be one of unity."

"Anyone who has a better idea and a better proposal, let them speak up."

 

And he concluded with a statement that sums up the spirit of the transformations underway: "There is a people mostly willing not to surrender, not to be humiliated, and not to lose what can be improved."