He pointed out that after a decrease in the economy in 2020, a slight increase in 2021, on January many of the indicators set behaved according to what was foreseen in the Plan.

The country received 86 000 foreign visitors and it was possible to gathered more than 30 000 tons of crops than in the same period in 2021, ¨which evidences the effect of the 63 measures approved in order to stimulate agricultural production¨, he said.

Expansion and improvement of the economic factors and pointed out that almost 2000 MSMEs were created, fact that will have a higher impact in 2022 due to they are currently in the constitution, registration and conditions setting process, said the vice-prime Minister.  

¨All this, he asserted, is aimed at increasing the offers¨.

Gil Fernández, acknowledged that even though the economic performance of the indicators was positive, do not meet current demand, yet, progress is being made.

Some work has been done under the pursuit of increasing the power of the state enterprise, main factor of the Cuban economy; 200 entities are already applying the new wage organization system, which implies they are no longer attached to the salary scale. 

He added that even when objectives problems remain, due to the blockade, the lack of currency and infrastructure, there are many potentialities and resources without being exploited, and those must be targeted.

In regard with the inflation, he expressed that this is a worldwide phenomenon which is the main topic of debate and concern in the country.

He highlighted that inflation is due to the rising in the import costs, the lack of offers, however, he explained, steady prices of the basic services such as electricity, communications, products like fuel and the regulated food basket has been maintained, even when costs has increased in the international market.

Gil Fernández explained that the solution is not rising the wage due to this would lead to an increased liquidity in hands of the population further influencing the rise in prices.

¨Also, an increase in the wage will rise the costs of the enterprises for which enterprises should reflect that expenses on their expenses report, he indicated.

There is no real chance of mitigating the situation with products import because of the lack of currency, that is why the bet if for domestic production. He detailed that in order to establish an official money exchange rate, sustainability is fundamental, and setting a certain amount of American dollars in that market would mean make them compete with American dollars used to support people´s basic needs.

There is no more money. Or we use dollars to pay for rice or fuel shipment or we put the shipment aside and position the dollars in the exchange market.

The Minister stated that in that sense a gradual and selective progress must be made, while designing some mechanisms to address the export´s currency and some national producers who could provide goods to the shops in domestic currency which need it to import supplies.  

Gil Fernández also mentioned the shops in MLC, and stated that those shops are the result of a necessary measure taken by the country´s direction in order to keep a regular level of offers in domestic currency and added, that right now is no possible to get rid of them.

These establishments, said, benefit everyone, directly or indirectly, because somehow people get products and services thanks to what is collected throughout this way.