Canel Bermúdez, President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Ministers, conducted an extensive tour of the Jardines del Rey tourist destination; the Turiguanó Genetic Enterprise; and a fruit processing Basic Enterprise Unit (UEB) affiliated with the Ceballos state enterprise; and the food processor Cubasoy, sites where he conversed with a number of workers.
In Cayo Coco, he received a detailed explanation from Sergio Ramón Ricaño Pérez, government representative in charge of the development program focused on the barrier islands north of Villa Clara, Ciego de Ávila, and Camagüey, where according to plans, 69,926 hotel rooms for international tourists will eventually be available.
Ricaño reported that in the case of Cayo Santa María, north of Villa Clara, the construction program “is reaching its conclusion.” With 13,084 rooms planned here, 10,572 are already in use.
Díaz-Canel asked Iyolexis Correa Lorenzo, representative for the Ministry of Tourism in Ciego de Ávila, about preparations for the coming high season, set to begin November 15. She explained that work is underway to ready 900 rooms; to review plans with suppliers; train workers with a view toward raising the quality of service; and consolidate management of investment projects to ensure that works are finished on time.
After the introduction, Díaz-Canel and his delegation which included Félix Duarte Ortega, Central Committee member and Party secretary in the province, several ministers, and vice presidents, proceeded to Cayo Guillermo to visit the hotel Pilar I (a five star-plus facility with 245 rooms) which is in the final stage of construction, set to conclude next month.
The group’s itinerary included the Turiguanó Genetic Enterprise, with the country’s largest herd of Santa Gertrudis cattle – the second largest in Latin America – which suffered major damage during Hurricane Irma last year, when the eye of the storm passed over the area and devastating winds hit facilities. The staff has been immersed in an extensive recovery plan to continue their work to genetically improve this cattle breed, raise purebred bulls, and produce meat, to be sold primarily to the country’s tourist resorts to reduce imports.
The visit continued to inspect fruit processing lines at the Ceballos Agro-industrial Enterprise, praised by Díaz-Canel in the month of May, when he noted the company’s efforts to create a closed production cycle, from fields to the processing plant.
Plant manager Rodolfo Morales Pérez reported that an investment project was begun in 2000, initially directed toward increasing reception capacity, juice and puree production, evaporation capacity, aseptic handling, and packaging for natural juices and tropical fruit purees.
In addition to these improvements, lines devoted to preparing canned tomato paste and fruit purees were expanded, allowing for increased efficiency since higher volumes of fruit can be handled in less time – a much needed step given the growth of agricultural production in the area.
Described by specialists as one of the best organized investment projects in the province’s agricultural sector, the company’s plans include the acquisition of clean technology to achieve more rational and efficient use of energy.
The President’s delegation also visited the Cubasoy Agro-industrial Enterprise, one of the largest in the country with more than 15,000 hectares under cultivation – principally corn, beans, and soy, a reality that has implied the need diversify production.
He spoke with leaders at La Cuba production site, calling on them to prepare a market study as soon as possible, to expand exports, as established in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment’s agreement 352/2017, saying, “This is the image of development we want in agriculture,” visibly pleased by the efforts of workers and management at this productive emporium.
The President of Cuba’s Councils of State and Minister returned to Ciego de Ávila just two months after a working visit to review progress being made in the Turquino-Bamburanao rural development plan, and the municipality of Florencia, where he evaluated damage caused by subtropical storm Alberto.
(Granma)