Havana, Cuba: After several days of previous activities, Cuban deputies today begin the work agenda of the Eighth Ordinary Period of Sessions of the National Assembly corresponding to its Ninth Legislature, Prensa Latina publishes.
The parliamentarians contemplate the analysis of an important block of economic issues in which the summary of the Economy of this year, the Plan for 2022 and the Draft Law of the State Budget stands out.
In compliance with the legislative schedule, the deputies will debate the draft laws for Territorial and Urban Planning and Land management, of the Military Courts and the Military Penal Process, which, if approved, will enrich national legislation.
The agenda for this Tuesday also includes the discussion of the Families Code project that will be taken to popular consultation next year.
With the presence of the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and president of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the deputies received this Monday, information on the management of different agencies of the Central State Administration.
In a session chaired by the head of parliament, Esteban Lazo, Díaz-Canel pointed out that it is necessary to strengthen the preparation of the negotiating teams for foreign investment and the agility in the execution of projects.
In this regard, Rodrigo Malmierca, head of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, presented an analysis of compliance with Law 118 regarding the participation of foreign capital.
He pointed out that, despite the actions taken, there are still problems that affect the attraction of foreign investment, among which the country’s high-risk rating, internal factors and Covid-19 stand out.
New cooperation projects
The deputies learned about the progress of the execution of Law 16 on International Cooperation less than a year after its implementation.
The Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca, commented that despite its short time in force, it is considered that it has led to a more favorable scenario, mainly in the second half of 2021.
He added that during the year, priority was given to offers to face Covid-19 and the principles and procedures provided in the new regulations were applied, which make MINCEX responsible with the approval of these actions in stages of emergencies or natural disasters.
Malmierca meant that new cooperation projects have been achieved with a more comprehensive and sustainable approach, but the same results have not been obtained with some that already existed.
Challenges for Domestic Trade
In her report to the National Assembly, the Minister of Internal Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, stressed that 2021 became a gigantic challenge due to the multiple factors that threatened the management of the sector.
She highlighted the process of transformation of human capital; the measures approved for financial consolidation; the categorization of warehouses; and the implementation of the visual identity manual.
She also referred to the Sixty and More program that provides for the recovery, maintenance and transformation of services in groceries and butchers, where electronic commerce through the QR code works is still insufficient.
Díaz Velázquez alluded to the electronic government and the computerization of 45 percent of the Consumer Registry Offices, where 66,146 new transitory nuclei were enabled until December of next year.
Act with a sense of urgency
In her report to the deputies, the Minister of Internal Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, advocated acting with a sense of urgency in the face of the demands of the population and considered the groceries as the most important commercial center in the neighborhoods and communities.
She detailed the food donations from friendly countries in the so-called Operation Solidarity, from which 6 million 80 thousand 918 modules have been derived.
Regarding the main dissatisfactions of the citizens, she mentioned among their causes the low availability of merchandise for sale; the wrong methods and styles of leadership; and the indiscipline and illegalities that persist in the establishments and companies.
Among the work priorities for 2022, she highlighted the continuity of training the cadres, officials and workers; and the consolidation of the management models that work today.
A new way to go
In the presence of the First Secretary of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel, and the President of Parliament, Esteban Lazo, the Minister of Agriculture, Ydael Pérez, informed the deputies of Parliament about the implementation of the 63 measures approved to boost the sector.
He explained that to guarantee the success of the process, a collective effort is required from all the Central State Administration Bodies and the Local Governments for its dissemination and training.
Ydael Pérez said that the measures contemplate the bases for the design of the municipal agro-industrial state business system, a fundamental component for the implementation of the Food Sovereignty and Nutrition Education Plan in the territory.
He said that what can be produced in Cuba has been identified and work is being done to prioritize the production of milk, corn, rice, and beans.
Attractive options
The decrease in the electricity and water rates, and the tax rate on personal income, as well as the creation of the Development Bank to grant loans to farmers, are among the 63 measures approved to boost agriculture, the minister of the branch, Ydael Pérez, said.
He explained to the deputies that differentiated prices were set for inputs, services and products such as milk, and the commercialization of beef was authorized, with the aim of promoting increased food production.
The owner added that the Cooperative System was reordered, Hiring Committees were created, the Marketing Policy was approved, and work is being done on the recovery of cattle, prioritizing the delivery of land to producers with cows.
Referring to the Pig Program, he explained that the lack of financing in recent times has caused the activity to be depressed.
Boost the food industry
The Minister of the Food Industry, Manuel Santiago Sobrino Martínez, stressed to Parliament that after the approval of 63 measures to boost the sector, a new stage of contact, discussion and contracting of the industry with producers opens.
He pointed out that the subjective aspects that have had a negative impact on the results of the productions have been taken into account, which add to the economic situation that the country is going through due to the impact of the US blockade and the crisis caused by Covid-19.
The official stressed that work is being done to improve business management, strengthen ties with productive forms and enhance the application of science in Industry processes.
In addition, Sobrino Martínez explained that the prices of agricultural raw materials, the quality of the contracts and the payments to producers were analyzed.
Challenges and challenges of MINAL
Progress has been made in the implementation of computerization processes and linkages with strategic economic sectors to enhance the results of the Food Industry, the head of the branch, Manuel Santiago Sobrino Martínez, said.
He highlighted among the main challenges for the food sector, to specify and consolidate the Industry Development Program to assimilate the expected growth of agricultural raw materials.
The efficiency of the business system must be enhanced and the hiring process from producer to producer must be carried out with greater rigor, Sobrino Martínez, said.
The official highlighted the importance of implementing a communication program that impacts industry players and linking the approved measures with municipal local development projects.
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