His Excellency, Mr. Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa, Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, dear all,
Firstly, I wish to express the cordial congratulations on the occasion of OFID´s forty-third (43rd) anniversary, at the time, I congratulate you on your appointment as Director General, wishing you every success in such a laudable function.
We highly value the mission of the OPEC Fund for International Development, particularly, for its significant contribution to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
It is a great rejoicing to sign the fourteenth (14th) Loan Agreement with the OPEC Fund for International Development, after two decades of smooth and increasing cooperation between Cuba and OFID.
This time, we have the privilege to share this crucial moment with Ambassador Juan Antonio Fernández and the delegation that accompanies me; composed of the Deputies Ministers of Foreign Trade and Investment, Ileana Núñez; Finance and Prices, Félix Martínez; Central Bank of Cuba, Arnaldo Alayón; the General Director of Foreign Affairs, Emilio Lozada and other officials, here today.
Through this new agreement we have signed, OFID grants a soft loan of US $ 25 million to contribute to the financing of the second phase of Las Tunas province Water and Sanitation Project which will make possible to continue the works in progress for the rehabilitation and expansion of the water supply system in the cities of Las Tunas and Puerto Padre and the villages of Menendez and Delicias. The project also comprises the execution of works which allow improving the sewer treatment and drainage system of the city of Las Tunas, among them, the construction of two new residual pumping stations, with a minimum nominal capacity 35 liters/sec.
Las Tunas project, like those also carried out with OFID´s contribution in Trinidad, Bayamo, Guantánamo and Palma Soriano, are part of the vast hydraulic program being developed in Cuba. We are implementing a Comprehensive Strategic Plan for Water Supply and Sanitation throughout the country, with a view to solve the complex problem of water supply and sanitation. This situation was inherited over the years and accumulated over time.
That is why; we highly appreciate and thank the significant OFID´s contribution in this sensitive sector, which is a priority for the Revolutionary Government of Cuba.
A broader view to the executed projects and the ones in execution, as part of OFID´s agreements, confirms the benefit to the agricultural sector, the rehabilitation of electricity networks, the rehabilitation of aqueduct and sewerage systems, and the renewable energies (solar energy). Eight projects have been successfully concluded over the years, and other five projects are proceeding well. The fourteenth (14th) agreement signed today, is added to those ones, and they have a common denominator, the notable economic and social impact, as in all cases they are targeted to meet the basic needs of the population in prioritized sectors for the society.
OFID has approved a total of US $ 253,5 million to Cuba, aiming to contribute to the execution of the mentioned 14 projects, including this one that we signed today.
I wish to reiterate, in the margins of this solemn ceremony, the willingness to continue strengthening the existing cooperation between Cuba and OFID.
Dear Director General, I wish you the best of success at the head of this noble institution and I would take this opportunity to also express my appreciation and recognize the efficient team of OFID´s Public Sector Operations Department.
Congratulations.
I thank you so much.
(Embacuba Austria)