Search Results for “pedro monreal”

“The Situation Is More Critical Than During the Special Period,” Warns Cuban Economist Pedro Monreal

Cuba is suffering from shortages, prolonged daily blackouts, high inflation, recession, dollarization, mass migration, and an accelerated deterioration of living conditions. EFE (via 14ymedia), Havana, 25 October 2025 — The Cuban crisis is “systemic” and its planned economic model has likely reached “its limits,” said renowned Cuban economist Pedro Monreal in an interview with EFE. … Continue reading ““The Situation Is More Critical Than During the Special Period,” Warns Cuban Economist Pedro Monreal”

Economist Pedro Monreal Points Out a ‘Statistical Blackout’ in Official Cuban Data

14ymedio, Havana, 14 March 2024 — The balance sheet for Internal Trade in Cuba for 2023, published by the Government this Wednesday, provided only one statistic for the sector: 70% of the construction materials delivery plan was met. The rest of the meeting consisted of an accumulation of “enigmatic formulations, abundant exhortations, a drought of … Continue reading “Economist Pedro Monreal Points Out a ‘Statistical Blackout’ in Official Cuban Data”

The Cuban Regime Continues Its Effort to Reform the Economy Without Making Political Changes

Pedro Monreal maintains that liberalization will remain limited as long as the State maintains control over the rules governing access and decision-making. EFE/14ymedio, Havana, September 28, 2026 – Cuba’s Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero, reported that, of the package of 176 economic and social reforms approved by the Government in June, 89% (158) are currently being … Continue reading “The Cuban Regime Continues Its Effort to Reform the Economy Without Making Political Changes”

With the Dollar at 730 Pesos and Much Opacity, Cuba’s First Private Currency Exchange House Opens

The main shareholder, holding 70% of the business, comes from the food service sector and claims the State has no stake 14ymedio, Madrid, September 18, 2026 / Cuba’s first private currency exchange house has the dollar through the roof. On the first day after it emerged that it was already operating, ADT 64 was buying … Continue reading “With the Dollar at 730 Pesos and Much Opacity, Cuba’s First Private Currency Exchange House Opens”

Since January, the Cuban Economy Has Been Falling at Twice the Rate Recorded at the Worst Point of the Special Period

Economist Pedro Monreal estimates a GDP contraction of up to 31% this year, three times more than the ECLAC forecast.14:15 The drop in gross domestic product could be double that of 1993, considered the worst year of the Special Period. This calculation comes from Pedro Monreal, a Cuban economist residing in Spain, and is based … Continue reading “Since January, the Cuban Economy Has Been Falling at Twice the Rate Recorded at the Worst Point of the Special Period”

“If You Don’t Live in Cuba, You Can’t Understand What the Blockade Is”

This is how Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel dodges the uncomfortable questions from a friendly journalist from Folha de S. Paulo. 14ymedio, Rolando Gallardo, Madrid, August 24, 2026 – The interview, granted to Mônica Bergamo of Folha de S. Paulo and published on August 23, 2026, begins with a scene bordering on surrealism. Before the first … Continue reading ““If You Don’t Live in Cuba, You Can’t Understand What the Blockade Is””

Discontent Within a Sector of the Cuban Regime Over the 176 Reforms and the Prominent Role of ‘The Crab’

While Díaz-Canel insists that socialism is not being abandoned, some members of the single party and intellectuals warn against “the country’s return to a pure and hard capitalist regime.” 14ymedio, Madrid, August 4, 2026 / Although for more than six decades the main decisions of the Cuban leadership have been accepted with the same “unanimity” … Continue reading “Discontent Within a Sector of the Cuban Regime Over the 176 Reforms and the Prominent Role of ‘The Crab’”

The 176 Reforms Are Not ‘a Return to Capitalism,’ the Cuban Government Tells the Single Trade Union

The Cuban Workers’ Federation wants to bring private-sector workers into its ranks and is studying the draft of the new Labor Code, which the minister responsible described as “revolutionary, novel, and up to date” 14ymedio, Havana, June 27, 2026 / “It is not a neoliberal package, nor is it a return to capitalism.” With that warning, … Continue reading “The 176 Reforms Are Not ‘a Return to Capitalism,’ the Cuban Government Tells the Single Trade Union”

The Package of Reforms Announced by Havana Meets with Scepticism Among Economists

Experts fear a ‘Caribbean perestroika’ in which only those close to the regime will benefit 14ymedio, Madrid, 19 June 2026 / Crony capitalism, Caribbean perestroika, a Sandinista-style piñata, or, as economist Mauricio de Miranda has long been describing it, a “transition from bureaucratic socialism to authoritarian and patrimonial capitalism” – this was the reception given to … Continue reading “The Package of Reforms Announced by Havana Meets with Scepticism Among Economists”

Díaz-Canel Creates False Expectations About Economic Reforms in Cuba

Only in tourism is there a possibility of change, still undefined, with “new approaches and new players” to exploit existing infrastructure. 14ymedio, Madrid, June 12 2026 / Cuba’s official press managed to create expectations for a few minutes by announcing that Miguel Díaz-Canel would make public this Friday a package of economic reforms that would … Continue reading “Díaz-Canel Creates False Expectations About Economic Reforms in Cuba”

The Cuban Economy Will Suffer a Much Larger GDP Decline Than Predicted by ECLAC

Cuban economist Pedro Monreal predicts a 15% drop in gross domestic product, compared to the 6.5% forecast by the Latin American organization 14ymedio, Havana, May 7, 2026 / Cuban economist Pedro Monreal is far more pessimistic in his forecasts for 2026 than the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) [CEPAL in Spanish], … Continue reading “The Cuban Economy Will Suffer a Much Larger GDP Decline Than Predicted by ECLAC”

The Central Bank of Cuba Creates 2,000 and 5,000 Peso Banknotes To Facilitate Transactions ‘In the Current Moments of Inflation’

For the first time, Cuban banknotes feature the faces of women, Mariana Grajales and Celia Sánchez. 14ymedio, Havana, March 31, 2026 – Mariana Grajales and Celia Sánchez will be the first female faces to appear on Cuban banknotes starting this Wednesday, when the Central Bank of Cuba (BCC) puts into circulation new denominations that have … Continue reading “The Central Bank of Cuba Creates 2,000 and 5,000 Peso Banknotes To Facilitate Transactions ‘In the Current Moments of Inflation’”

Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Confirms Cubans in the US Will Be Able to Invest in Private Businesses on the Island

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez called the Cuban government’s announcement a “desperate maneuver by the dictatorship to try to save itself.” 14ymedio, Havana, March 16, 2026 — Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, said this Monday that the Government will allow “Cubans who reside abroad even without holding effective … Continue reading “Cuban Foreign Trade Minister Confirms Cubans in the US Will Be Able to Invest in Private Businesses on the Island”

Experts: The Government’s Measures Are Stopgaps and Will Not “Resolve or Correct the Multiple Crises”

In addition to facing legal obstacles on the Island and in the U.S., it will be necessary to create guarantee mechanisms for potential investors. 14ymedio, March 17, 2026 – MADRID / The ball is in the U.S.’ court about whether it will respond or not to the changes announced this Monday by Cuba’s deputy prime … Continue reading “Experts: The Government’s Measures Are Stopgaps and Will Not “Resolve or Correct the Multiple Crises””

With the Legalization in Cuba of Mixed Companies Between the Private Sector and the State, the Regime Aims to Capture Efficiency

The new rule sparks skepticism among experts, and some fear it’s about “locking in state subordination of the private business sector.” 14ymedio, Madrid, 4 March 2026 — “With the new rule on mixed mercantile companies, imported fuel sold by the private sector might finally have an outlet.” That’s the take from Daniel Torralba, economist and … Continue reading “With the Legalization in Cuba of Mixed Companies Between the Private Sector and the State, the Regime Aims to Capture Efficiency”