A few meters away, other hands, other faces, are following the process in the swab plant, with a production capacity that has allowed the delivery to the Ministry of Public Health of some 1,750,000 swabs since its start-up last March.

We are visiting the Center for Neurosciences of Cuba (Cneuro) medical supplies plant, in a building which until just months ago housed a biotherium for scientific research which required the use of experimental animals, but the facility was feeling the weight of the years and many of its areas were in disuse.

“The conditions of the site had fallen into a state of disrepair. There is a project in the making to recover the purpose of the space and create a modern, high-performance biotherium. Right now, the monkeys and other species are housed at the National Center for the Production of Laboratory Animals (Cenpalab),” explained Antonio Fernández Mastrapa, Director of Production at Cneuro. In the midst of this process, he explained, negotiations were being conducted with international organizations to acquire equipment, which would allow us to manufacture protective wear to confront COVID-19. “It so happened then that these installation of these machines required specific conditions and the premises we had at the center were not suitable for this purpose. So we decided to use the biotherium facility.”

The project, he said, began in October of 2020 and by November the first constructive works were already underway. “Several entities were involved in the final result, from construction and service companies, to Havana’s water system, the Electric Union, Sanitary Services, non-agricultural cooperatives…, in addition to the support provided by the provincial government from the beginning,” he added.

The “made in Cuba” masks are very similar to those marketed internationally and are composed of three layers: one blue, which is the outer layer, a white intermediate layer, and a filter that performs the main role in protecting against the virus.

The system for their manufacture includes three pieces of equipment, Fernández told Granma. The first shapes the mask, and is capable of producing between 100 and 150 units per minute at full capacity. The second machine on the assembly line, which attaches elastic straps to the mask to hold it in place, can only handle up to 40 per minute, thus lowering productive capacity, he said.

“Taking this inconvenience into account, we were obliged to readjust production, to allow for uniformity and ensure that bottlenecks are not created.” He nonetheless emphasized that the goal is to meet the demand for this product, reporting that work is underway to obtain the necessary financing to purchase another machine to attach the straps to the mask, in order to double production, he explained.

“The third machine is the packager, and we have programmed it with a format of five units per package. These machines were started up just a few weeks ago, and we are currently in the load testing phase, but later this month, they will move into full operation,” he stated.

Their acquisition, he commented, was made possible through a project to support measures to prevent and combat covid-19 in Cuba, co-financed by the European Union, which, in addition to the masks, also contributed to increasing our mold manufacturing workshop’s capacity, and in the coming months will allow for the assembly of a plastic injection machine for the manufacture of protective goggles.

Regarding the assurance of raw materials, Fernández explained that materials were initially acquired along with the machinery, which will guarantee the production of an adequate number of masks to evaluate the performance of both the equipment and the materials.

“Of course, we are not going to wait for the raw material to run out before making the necessary arrangements. We are already working to acquire the materials: the cloth, the filter, the wire that acts as a nose bridge, the elastic that holds the mask, etc.”

Cuban swabs: Another milestone

Before COVID-19, Cneuro’s workshop did not manufacture swabs, but rather manufacture of auditory equipment and hearing aids, reported Yamil Rosales Hernández, head of the company’s Medical Supplies Plant.

Nonetheless, given the increase in COVID-19 cases and the need to guarantee PCR testing, we have taken on other responsibilities, he said.

He specified that in September of 2020 they initially produced some 10,000 swabs a day, a task completed “almost entirely manually, using some motors and the continuous efforts of our personnel day and night.”

The United Nations Development Program made possible the acquisition of machinery to manufacture swabs, along two lines: for PCR testing and general use, he added.

The PCR swab is fabricated with polyester thread and a polyethylene stick, and both materials are supplied by national industry, with quality that has been certified, he noted. “It also has medical-grade paper, which ensures the protection and transportation of the sterilized material. Each package contains two swabs.”

Unlike the masks, he said, raw material for the swabs is domestically produced, which is an advantage when it comes to sustaining production.

According to Rosales, the plant is capable of delivering up to 120,000 packages of swabs a day, but since an automatic packaging machine has not been obtained, the process must be done manually, slowing daily production to around 20,000 in this format.

With the acquisition of this equipment, he said, it will be possible to eliminate the importation of swabs for PCR testing, with the consequent savings for the country’s economy.

Both in the swab plant and the mask facility, most of the staff is young. Almost all are Cneuro workers and have experience in the manufacture of protective wear and equipment, since many were trained and participated in the “almost entirely manual” production of swabs.

Administrators at the center report that both masks and swabs are subjected to a rigorous sterilization and quality-control process, and have not disappointed the final recipients.

(Taken from Granma)

Diana Rosa Laffita Vega, Gedeme business director, explained to Granma that the project was commissioned by Cuba´s telecommunications enterprise Etecsa, to produce antenna-bearing structures for communications services, which have previously been imported.

“A guyed tower or mast, as others know it, is a lightweight structure that is easy to install and offers very good weight-bearing characteristics at great heights.”

In the case of the order placed by Etecsa, the director specified that in includes 30 towers 21 meters high and 20 of 30 meters; both constructed with steel purlin, plates or tubes, and can withstand winds up to approximately175 Km/h.

Referring to their technical characteristics, she added that these structures are fixed to the ground by means of a concrete casting attached to the base of the tower, with highly resistant, 8.8 class, hot-dip galvanized fasteners, which guarantee the structures’ stability, resistance and operation.

This type of tower is not only used to support mobile phone service, but can also be used as repeaters for television signals, AM and FM radio stations, and higher frequencies (VHF and UHF), which are used for short distance links and also as radars and aids in aviation and maritime navigation, she reported.

According to the specialist, the project constitutes an invaluable step forward in building production capacity, replacing imports, and advancing the computerization of society. It will have significant social impact as part of a continuous process underway to improve the country’s telecommunications infrastructure.

(Taken from Granma)

Among the productions of these projects are approximately 1,000 tons of base for ecological paint, 900,000 liters of Pinturas Corona, 300,000 plugs, 20,000 switches, 280,000 sockets, 170,000 LED-lamp bases and 285,000 plumbing fixtures.

These projects have shown how productive chains, partnerships among socialist state enterprises, import substitution and links with academia can be attained, efforts proposed by President Miguel Díaz-Canel to boost the national economy.

One of these endeavors involved the paint manufacturer Pinturas Corona, which in 2020 supplied over 1,300,000 liters to the program for the local production and sale of construction materials through its partnership with the Local Industry Enterprise Group, to distribute and produce their product.

Partnerships between enterprises, whether suppliers of raw materials or developers of products, with the application of science and practical knowledge, have achieved the creation of new high-impact products for use in decisive lines of work within the Housing Program.

Manuel Vázquez Enríquez, head of Micon’s program for the local production of construction materials, explained to Granma that the productive chain and cooperative efforts with Pinturas Corona, Azcuba, the González Lines Enterprise and the Institute of Marine Sciences (ICIMAR) made possible, among other accomplishments, the reactivation, with Cuban raw materials, of a paint factory in Holguín, associated with the Azcuba Central Enterprise Management Group. This facility was inoperative due to the unavailability of imported materials.

The partnership of Pinturas Corona with ICIMAR, affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment, sought to develop, with the use of science, bacteria that produce cellulose as paint thickener, a process that can be applied later by other enterprises.
Pinturas Corona has partnered with the Institute of Marine Sciences to develop bacteria that produce cellulose as paint thickener. Photo: Ricardo López Hevia

Currently, a paint factory is under construction in the Havana municipality of Marianao, by a brigade from the Demolition and Construction Enterprise, affiliated with the Gelma group, under the franchise of Pinturas Corona, which will contribute with technology and knowledge in the production of polymers and the manufacturing of different types of paints, including anticorrosive, enamel, waterproof, and high-quality hygienic, among others; also adhering to their systems of quality assurance and environment protection, in order to meet the high demand of the Ministry of Agriculture, with no expenses in hard currency required.

By means of the science applied by Pinturas Corona and Azcuba, in collaboration with the Sugar Cane Research Institute, they plan to produce an anticorrosive with domestic raw materials, for repair works in sugar mills, and to develop resins and binders to improve paint quality.

Vázquez Enríquez states that, in order to meet the growing demand for paints and ecological bases, as promoted by the leadership of the country to replace imports, it is essential that enterprises and suppliers of domestic raw materials facilitate the acquisition of these products by the manufacturers responsible for this task.

Quality and environmental protection

Antonio Corona Montero, self-employed owner of the brand and creator of Pinturas Corona, explained that this product is made from overstocked items acquired from different enterprises and state organizations, making a range of paints of different types that are an environmentally friendly, climate-resistant product, for both indoor and outdoor surfaces.

According to the head of the Micon program for the local production of construction materials, these projects receive special attention from the Center for Construction Research and Development, to certify their quality.

Likewise, a partnership was created with Union Suchel laboratories, for the certification of creoline, one of the products manufactured during the new coronavirus pandemic and supplied to the People’s Power government of the Habana del Este municipality for the disinfection of isolation centers.

PhD Luis Rafael Díaz Cisneros, coordinator of Technical Assistance at Pinturas Corona, explained that quality control of the product is assured, following established standards of density, viscosity, coverage and dry residue, which they also compare to the parameters of other internationally certified brands.

Furthermore, among the ongoing projects for environment protection is a treatment plant to recycle water, a process through which the Pinturas Corona factory recovers 5,000 liters of water in a recirculation system, and an external drainage system which ensures that water released into the Cojímar River is waste-free.

Díaz Cisneros added that they have conducted geological studies to detect organisms, which have indicated that the factory’s water treatment system is safe.

Exporting quality products

According to the country’s economic and social strategy to boost the national economy, non-state forms of management can export through specialized state enterprises.
One of the goals of Pinturas Corona is to export its products to international markets through the Ministry of the Construction, once they have filled social orders and met projections for retail sales.

In this way, Corona Montero states, they will be contributing to the national economy with hard currency and with other equipment they can acquire, necessary to continued improvement of their product’s quality and to substitute imports, thus responding to calls made by the country’s leadership, and contributing to Cuba’s plan for economic and social development.

(Taken from Granma)

When we hear about a non-state economic actor venturing into import and/or export operations, almost automatically our mind associates such activity with agro-industrial products, equipment, accessories, raw materials….

But one of the positive elements of regulations published in August of 2020, which opened the doors to this type of foreign trade via specialized state companies, is that the option is not limited to self-employed workers or non-agricultural cooperatives, but is available to the entire non-state sector, and that services and goods as varied as the market itself that can be placed in the international arena.

This is well understood by self-employed worker, Bernardo Romero, founder of Ingenius Cuba, a micro-company offering computer and electronic solutions that has already signed three export contracts through state enterprises, two via Softel and one through Desoft.

“We do not export a product, but rather a service that could be defined as software development tailored to the client’s needs. Thus far, we have only signed small scale agreements, as we are just starting, but the goal is to continue growing and positioning ourselves in a foreign market that is competitive and demanding.”

Although Romero states that the experience of exporting has been positive and he is grateful for the specialized support provided by government agencies, he adds, “There are many elements that can be improved and could be changed in order to move forward with this policy, which can be of great benefit to non-state forms of management and to the country as a whole.”

Data recently provided by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex) indicate that through the first half of January 2021, 4,450 non-state forms of management had approached the specialized companies, while 2,081 have firm intentions to establish some type of operation.

Since the regulations were published five months ago, 863 contracts have been signed: 42 for exports and 821 to import. The negotiations have entailed transactions totaling 22 million dollars.

When analyzing the data, readers may wonder why the number of agreements signed for importing goods is higher than those related to exports.

According to Vivian Herrera Cid, Mincex general director of Foreign Trade, the entire Cuban economy as well as non-state economic actors tend to resort to imports to meet their needs, a tendency that must be reversed to the extent that national industry is able to meet the growing demand of all producers and service providers.

Along with the negotiations, she explained to Granma, a survey has been conducted in all provinces to identify potential exports, since every product or service that can be placed on the world market, even on a small scale, provides access to hard currency.

The dearth of these initiatives, she said, along with the technological obsolescence of Cuba’s industrial stock, management inertia and and excessive number of regulations, are among the causes that have led to the decline in exports. The country has now begun to remove obstacles and the results, sooner rather than later, should be positive, Herrera stated.

“Nonetheless, it must also be borne in mind that exporting is no simple matter. In addition to complying with a series of technical requirements and meeting international standards, negotiations are required to allow an exportable product can be placed in a market, where it will be competing with other recognized brands,” she added.

These are procedures that are often unknown or not fully mastered by non-state management, but which foreign trade companies can handle efficiently, since they have the experience to facilitate the processes and even make the operations less costly, since Cuba is a signatory of several trade agreements, which include benefits in tariff matters, she explained.

Although some have questioned why commercial import and/or export activity must be conducted through specialized state companies – currently there are 41 – reality has shown, in the words of Herrera, that “such facilitation is necessary, taking into account the dissimilar regulations in existence, as well as the importance of knowing the clients, their financial capacity.”

A similar opinion is shared by Orelvis Bormey, who describes as “satisfactory and essential” the advice provided by Cubaexport during the entire process, which allowed his peanut candies to make the long journey from Villa Clara to Italy.

“Initially, as part of testing the market, we exported 5,000 peanut nougats bars in a 75-gram format, including 2,000 fully ground and 3,000 ground with some nuts. Cubaexport had established working relations with the foreign entity and this provided a safe environment for commercial transactions,” he told Granma.

For Bormey, formally marketing his products for international consumption has been “an excellent experience that gives results, encourages and rewards work and dedication.”

In addition, he said, exports provide income in hard currency, which can boost the finances of the new forms of management and those of the country. “This income, in turn, allows us to make imports that will guarantee the incorporation of technology, which contributes to greater efficiency of processes and lowers production costs, which then define sales prices.”

Bernardo Romero, another self-employed worker, considers the advice of the intermediary companies valuable, since they are well organized and have access to the experience of lawyers and marketing specialists, but also believes that regulations governing the export process for small scale, rapid delivery services should be reviewed.

We are not talking about exporting containers of avocados, pineapples or charcoal, he said, but about services like software and IT solutions, which are obliged to go through an excessively long process, when foreign clients requesting this type of service are looking for operability, speed and efficiency.

This does not mean that intermediary companies are not necessary, he said, but rather that analysis is needed to determine what services can be managed in a different way, given their nature.

Experiences such as those of Orelvis and Bernardo show that it is possible, and feasible, for non-state forms of management to make inroads into foreign trade, and that the path is gradually being cleared of the initial uncertainties and fears, although there remains a long way to go and much room for improvement.

As the Mincex general director of Foreign Trade admits, the entry into effect of new regulations governing this activity has imposed a challenge these processes have customarily been conducted.

In the new scenario, state companies – which include meticulous planning of imports and/or exports in their daily routine – are facing a novel work dynamic, undertaking tasks that demand greater immediacy and are of a smaller scale, and this has not yet been fully achieved, she pointed out.

“For example, importers such as Tiendas Caribe, Cimex and Sasa are accustomed to purchasing large volumes of homogeneous products and then selling them on the market. They initially found the new dynamics strange, and this created ‘bottlenecks’ that slowed the procedures, in addition to other deficiencies such as lack of communication with non-state management and resistance to change.”

Regarding imports specifically, several customers have indicated their dissatisfaction with delays in the arrival of their orders.

“Although thus far I have received all the items with the agreed upon quality and price, it would be helpful if the specialized entities kept certain products in stock, which would allow us to buy them when needed and without delays,” stated Caridad María González Guerra, a self-employed food services provider, who has imported raw materials to make ice cream.

Many workers in the non-state sector do not have access to large amounts of hard currency to pay for significant purchases in advance and, on the other hand, the U.S. blockade and the epidemic have made importing more complicated, leading to delays in the delivery of orders of up to two or three months, she said.

According to Herrera, these delays occur when the goods are not available within the country on consignment and buyers must wait for their arrival from abroad. However, she clarified, more than 50% of contracted orders have been processed through the consignment or bonded warehouse modality, which allow goods to be delivered immediately.

Another concern raised by non-state management is related to the possibility that specialized companies could suggest types of markets or possible clients to the non-state sector, which would optimize operations, since they would involve known, reliable foreign entities with which, in many cases, commercial relations have been previously established.

We cannot forget that this type of foreign trade activity began only a few months ago, and non-state management as well as specialized companies are immersed in a continuous process of learning as they work. This is the time to perfect how they function, to together ensure that imports contribute to improving the quality of services, and that the Cuba trademark conquers the international market.

(Taken from Granma)

And so this efficient socialist company was launched in its category as the first exporting pole of Guantánamo – approved in January of this year – which authorizes it to trade with the world directly, a crucial step to assume its promising position within the strategic program of local development, which will boost capacities to increase export lines and poles.

The prestigious industry recognized by its trade name AltoSerra and founded in 1987, in the first half of 2020 concentrated its efforts on certification processes, training and functional adjustments to undertake, independently, export responsibility, complementing the mission of Cubaexport, until now by in front of all your commercial activity.

Likewise, this year about to conclude, the entity laid the foundations for recently also completing, to Europe, its first direct shipment of batches of cocoa beans, another of the lines of the province best located in the international market, and in which The Asdrúbal López Coffee Processor is now entering, in its desire to diversify and conquer new clients for the future.

The details were provided to the Cuban News Agency Osmel de la Cruz, general director of this Guantanamo company, who stressed that, in order to position itself as an export industry in the eastern region, during this time work has been done on the readjustment of procedures and creation of a foreign trade department, with an office and representation in Havana.

AltoSerra, Vanguardia Nacional for almost three decades and one of the most efficient in the business system of the Ministry of Agriculture, closes another year of good results, fulfilling both its commitment to foreign sales and the internal sale of exportable coffee. and that destined for consumption, in the latter case exceeding the levels of the last 11 years.

His tribute currently represents between 50 and 60 percent of the national coffee that is exported today, and in this area he aspires to conquer new markets, beyond his usual clients in Europe, Asia and Oceania, who already attest to excellence. of coffee born in the heart of the mountains of the extreme eastern part of Cuba.

The efficient preparation of washed Arabica coffee that it processes (rest of the grain and the formation of batches of the same region and quality), led to levels of use above 80 percent, which contributed greater added value to the product, said the maximum representative of this entity with headquarters in the extreme south of the city of Guantánamo.

This industry employs more than 400 workers in seven units distributed in four Guantanamo municipalities -he explained-, and among its suppliers are all the coffee companies in the provinces of Guantánamo and Holguín, with plantations about 500 and 700 meters above the level. from the sea, altitudes with favorable climates and soils for this crop.

Today the certification procedures, of the denomination of origin of its high quality product, recognize not only its coffee growing niches in the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa Massif (with more than 200 years of tradition in the cultivation and benefit of the drupa), rather, they include other endorsements of award-winning requirements in the international market, such as harvesting in harmony with the environment.

For a second stage within its development strategy as an export pole, the technological improvements will remain, and take until the roasting -with roasting, grinding and packaging- the processing of its star item, until now commercialized in grain, which will convert the company in exporter not only of raw materials, but also of finished products.

(Source: ACN)

The facility, which affiliated with to the Mármoles Oriente basic enterprise unit, is currently in the final stages of a thorough process of technological upgrading and has activated its two manufacturing lines and offers conditions to accept blocks of various types of this stone extracted in different parts of the country.
Director of this facility José Miguel Rodríguez told Granma International that they had so far processed some 4,000 square meters of Red Campiña marble, from Cienfuegos, and Siboney Gray, from the Isle of Youth. They are also waiting for the advance of mining development in the new local quarry of Roca Valle rock, to add it as an exportable item.

Three years after the lasts shipments abroad were made, the factory currently accumulates ready-made productions in order to respond immediately to the possible demand once the the Siboney exporting company, of the Ministry of Construction, has defined the possible destination markets.
Rodríguez pointed out that Crema Valle has historically been the most demanded among Cuban marbles, and that the current assortments -especially the 40-by-40-centimeter veneer slab- are destined for national investments in tourism, public health and other sectors. Hence, its incorporation into the line of exportable slabs will depend on the increase of extraction works in quarry.

Once the traditional mine was depressed, he explained, the recent opening of a new deposit will create the conditions to reach, by the end of the year, a potential monthly production of one thousand cubic meters of rock. The new deposit is currently at 30% of its potential, and the industrial combine only requires 850 square meters, which equals some160 blocks of 15 and 20 tons each.

The reinsertion of the Granma industrial combine in the export market, together with the search for alternatives to take advantage of the rocky residuals in the manufacture of construction materials are in accordance with agreements of the last governmental visit to the province that could be fulfilled in the short term; especially after the completion of investments planned both in the industry and the quarry.

(Granma)

These orders are to be followed by others to initially reach a total of 20 tons, from the 30 C farm, Marsella collective, affiliated with the Frutales Ceballos basic enterprise unit (UEB), with extensive experience in other exports lines, responding to the call made by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, to promote such efforts throughout the country.

Among the Ceballos products well-received in European countries and the Middle East are, among others, marabou charcoal, MD-2 pineapple, fruit juices, papaya preserves, and hot pepper or Habanero Chile, this latter winner of a Gold Medal for quality at the 2019 International Agricultural Fair, one of the leading commercial expositions in the region.In the case of mango, the varieties exported to other latitudes are the Tommy Atkins and Super Haden grafted on Corazón, carefully cultivated, with specialized pruning to reduce panicles and avoid friction damage to fruit.

Odalis Burgos Hernández, a fruit processor at the storage and marketing UEB, told Granma that the staff here guarantees the preparation and packing of high-quality mangoes in accordance with international standards.

Likewise, engineer Pilar Ruiz González, head of the provincial Vegetable Health and Hygiene Department’s quarantine program, said that efforts have been increased in groves to eliminate disease and pests.

In May last year, President Díaz-Canel made special note of the work being done by Ciego de Ávila’s Ceballos Agro-industrial Enterprise, which has achieved a closed cycle, with harvests going directly from the field, to the processing plant, to markets, leading to a significant increase in exports.

(Granma)

Many entities, institutions, and people work together to keep the so-called driving force of the economy on track. This collective interest has led to the promotion of productive chains, one of the objectives of the National Economic and Social Development Plan through 2030. While it is still too early to talk of grand results, today we can glimpse concrete examples in the sector, which have also allowed for improved economic efficiency, efficacy, and competitiveness, with high quality standards.

EXPERIENCES IN VILLA CLARA

For a long time, Villa Clara’s suppliers prepared to respond to the tourism demands of this destination, noted Regla Dayamí Armenteros, Ministry of Tourism (Mintur) delegate in the territory.

“Many of the enterprises in the province are today suppliers of the hotel chains present here and many other hotels in the country. The Villa Clara dairy, the canning factory and the Agua Amaro bottling plant, as well as the CALCONF Provincial Apparel and Footwear Enterprise, are responding to the demand and contributing to the substitution of imports,” the Mintur delegate added.

Direct communication between suppliers and their customers, which ensures a favorable relationship and respect between the two parties, has been achieved in the province, which currently has more than 35 hotels, eight campsites, and 533 high quality hostels. This was confirmed by Fidel Rodríguez Tiel, head of the state enterprise Suchel Camacho sales team in Villa Clara. The team is responsible for supplying personal hygiene products to all hotel chains.

“We offer products in different formats. One can find shampoo, conditioner, body soap, body cream, dental and shaving kits, among other offers. Clients place orders in our local offices or directly in the Havana branch. Once the contract is completed, we also guarantee personalization of the products. Deliveries are made to the hotel or the site where the merchandise was requested,” Rodríguez Tiel explained.

Suchel Camacho S.A closed 2017 with sales of 6.9 million CUC, and in 2018 it is expected to exceed plans with an estimated 8 million CUC in sales. Its production levels increase in accordance with demand, and the firm aims to grow alongside tourism.

“Suchel Camacho S.A intends to progress proportionally to tourism development. We go hand in hand, both in production and supply, and the delivery of our products to hotels. As a national enterprise, we intend to guarantee hotel supplies with the quality demanded by current and potential clients, according to the standards of the different recognized hotel categories. We also seek to enter niche markets related to professional lines, such as Spa and cruise ships that arrive to Cuban ports,” the head of the sales team in Villa Clara explained.

As the market leader in this area, Suchel Camacho S.A is also working on the launch of new products that will soon be on the market and on sale to all customers. The enterprise which features as part of joint efforts in the tourism sector through 2030, is present today in all hotel chains of the country and offers perfumery, cleaning and personal hygiene products, both inside and outside hotel chains, and in stores belonging to the Caracol, Caribe and Cimex chains.

LOCAL FRUIT FOR TOURISM

Variety, stability, and large volumes of products are required to meet the demands of the tourism sector. Numerous lines are essential, with food products standing out as particularly important. Frutas Selectas is the main enterprise of its kind responsible for marketing agricultural products. In Villa Clara, its basic state enterprise unit (UEB) sells around 150 products, including fruit, leaf and root vegetables, and more recently, processed foods and honey produced by the Apisun enterprise.

“We mainly offer agricultural products, but we already have contracts with new production methods and are selling tomato paste, fruit pulp, preserves and condiments. We supply the hotels of the province and also the owners of hostels,” explained Yuneidis Espinosa Manso, commercial management technician at the UEB.

She added that the demand is known one year in advance and depending on the request, contracts are signed with productive forces. As seasonal products, grains, potatoes,and some vegetables are stored in refrigerated chambers to preserve them throughout the year. This is the case, for example, with cabbage, beets, and carrots.

“We have producers who only sow cabbage or guava for the year. We present them with the orders, reach an agreement, and if that producer can’t cover everything, then we seek others. If we don’t find a producer in the province, we do so at the national level. We likewise take products from here to Sancti Spíritus and Holguín,” Espinosa Manso noted.

Generally, visitors come looking for endemic fruits of Cuba. Depending on the season, they can find guava, mango, bananas, and others. But Villa Clara is lucky enough to have the Escambray mountains, offering the possibility of producing other fruit varieties which are scarce on the market.

“Star fruit, loquat, passion fruit and others that are not widespread are now among our products. We are forming partnerships with mountain producers to specialize in planting these fruits. According to marketability studies, visitors like them, which is why we are also working with suppliers from Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana. In the latter province, we have producers who specialize in strawberries, a fruit that is not typical of our country, but which is welcomed and helps us to substitute imports,” explained Espinosa Manso.

Based on the experience of this UEB, forging a relationship that links products, enterprises, and clients has not only allowed the company to increase sales, but also motivated producers and resulted in satisfied customers, given the variety of products they come across on visiting the country’s hotels.

SWEETS AND RUM FROM THE CENTER OF THE ISLAND

Preserves, papaya fruit in syrup, guava shells, and coconut sweets are desserts that Europeans especially enjoy when visiting the island. These typical Cuban sweets are now offered in hotel buffets and are also in great demand due to their quality.

Humberto Suárez Marrero, commercial manager of the Los Atrevidos Canned Vegetables Enterprise, located in Villa Clara province, noted that chefs, for example, really appreciate the firm’s natural products. This central UEB belongs to the National Canned Goods Enterprise. It currently has four factories that supply tourist facilities and stores selling goods in CUP and CUC.

“The five groups of products that are marketed in large and small formats include tomato paste, sweets in syrup, mayonnaise and sauces, marinated vegetables, and spices. Supply varies according to high and low seasons, and is provided through Comercializadora ITH S.A or A.TComercial S.A, associated with the Gaviota S.A tourism group, responsible for selling directly to the hotels. So far we have not had problems with the demand. There are products that vary depending on the year, but the orders agreed with the different entities are always fulfilled,” Suárez Marrero added.

Syrups for ice cream, candy, sugar in its different formats and some typical Cuban rums and liqueurs are also present in the country’s hotels thanks to the Tecnoazúcar Technical Engineering and Sugar Services Enterprise, part of the AZCUBA Sugar Group.

With a range of more than 167 products in different formats, Tecnoazúcar supplies all hotels on Cuba’s northern keys, the hotel and extra-hotel network of the province, and also extends throughout the country.

“We introduced Mulata and Santero rums to the market, in addition to sugar in mini formats, one kilo, and 50 kilogram bags. We also have Mulata sugar, a product that was requested by Mintur and which is currently in the one kilogram format and is being delivered to all hotel facilities,” explained Liván Pérez Rodríguez, Tecnoazúcar Villa Clara’s commercial manager.

Responsible for marketing all the products of the AZCUBA Sugar Group nationwide, Tecnoazúcar is currently experiencing significant growth of over 12% per year. The new image of some of its products has proved popular. Today there is a significant presence of these products in Cuba’s hotels and increasing demand, which has surpassed all forecasts.

“Guaranteeing production and satisfying that demand is essential to continue growing. We had been present on the market with the same image for a long time, and we decided that in order to reach a greater standing and presence it was necessary to renew it. We’re talking about Santero, Mulata and other rums and liquors that we produce. We compete on price and quality and now this visual change updates our products and allows us to better compete,” Pérez Rodríguez added.

Complying with the premise that it is imperative to replace imports, the Tecnoazúcar commercial manager in Villa Clara explained that it is very important for the enterprise to be one of the nation’s main suppliers. Today, he added, they are preparing to offer quality products that are effective in the market and mean the Ministry of Tourism can avoid importing any of these goods.

ENSURING ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE

The appearance of staff in any space says a lot about the quality of the entity. In the tourism sector, ensuring a good first impression is an important matter for hotel chains.

In the center of the island, this responsibility is being shouldered by the CALCONF Provincial Apparel and Footwear Enterprise, affiliated with the Industries and Handicrafts Enterprise Group (VICLAR) of the Provincial Administration Council of Villa Clara. CALCONF produces and markets textile garments, footwear and other by-products, in addition to providing embroidery and printing services.

Ana Iris Paneque, CALCONF Production and Commercial director, noted that the main product lines are destined for the tourism sector. Among the more than 15 lines are uniforms for all hotel staff, workwear for cooks and janitors, bed sheets, pillow cases, bedspreads, caps, gloves, long and short-sleeved overalls, and other garments for waiters and waitresses, table linen, aprons, and napkins; all of which are personalized.

“The number of garments is requested in the contracts, which can extend from one year to another. If it’s urgent and we can, we undertake the work immediately, but normally we request the fabric in advance and then work with it. We are always looking for new solutions, for example, if there are designs that are not in our portfolio we also make them. We have a variety of clients and we keep in touch with them all the time through email,” explained Iris Paneque.

The enterprise, which is undergoing a development process, currently has seven UEBs able to produce around 3,000 uniforms each month. Thanks to this level of production, they supply all the hotel chains of the province and also others located in Cayo Coco, in Ciego de Ávila province. Among the new designs being promoted is the traditional guayabera shirt, a very attractive piece for those who visit the CALCONF workshop and retail store located in the city of Villa Clara.

“Tourism is a sector in constant growth and for us it is important to be recognized as a provincial enterprise that provides products to other parts of the country. With this work we make known the progress of Villa Clara in the garment sector, which is little known. Likewise, CALCONF facilitates the purchase of these uniforms within the country and thus helps the province and the country to substitute imports,” Iris Paneque noted.

WORKING TO IMPORT LESS

“Creating productive chains has been the best contribution that the province has made. Strengthening Villa Clara with various tourist destinations not only has to do with agriculture or with the efforts of each of the suppliers, it also has to do with participating from the community and consolidating local development so that this can later multiply,” stated Ministry of Tourism delegate Regla Dayamí Armenteros.

Bringing local economies closer to national ones, generating jobs, using industrial capacities in the best way and contributing from the ground to better enterprise management, are some of the results that can be glimpsed today in the province of Villa Clara. The tourism sector is growing in this destination and with it the locality.

Consolidating these experiences at the national level will depend on integration among all parties. Much-needed productive chains depend on these activities being one hundred percent achieved. Boosting standards within the Cuban economy implies better planning, knowing potential capacity, innovating and producing, acquiring comprehensive training, and working towards maximum quality.

As one of the most dynamic economic sectors in Cuba, tourism is continuing to advance, and these are some examples of how efforts are being focused in this area. Reducing import dependency and gradually balancing the Cuban economy with national products will depend on the creation of strong productive chains.

(Granma)

In May of 2016, taking advantage of the nature of the distillery’s roof, a solar photovoltaic park was installed, composed of 2,752 panels, capable of generating more than 900 megawatts annually, according to Carlos Rubén Armas Díaz, plant director.

The distillery is a pioneer in the use of solar energy in Cuba, he added, and the strategy is linked to steps being taken to prevent, mitigate, and eliminate the negative environmental impact of the rum production process.

Of all energy produced by the solar panels, the plant consumes only 38%, and the rest, 62%, is delivered to the national power grid (SEN), allowing for important savings and greater efficiency at the Agustín Rodríguez Mena distillery, Armas noted.

Some facts provided by the director confirm this. Through the first four months of the year, more than 6,000 pesos have been earned supplying electricity to the national grid, while more than 175,216 pesos have been saved with reduced energy consumption since the project was launched two years ago, he reported.

Other elements that reveal the significance of this project include the fact that the release of 19,142 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has been avoided, since the burning of 473 tons of crude oil was not needed, thus also saving the national economy 279,000 pesos. Plus, loss of energy in transmission has also been eliminated, according to an explanation provided by electrical engineer Gustavo Otero Barroso, who is in charge of the photovoltaic park.

Constructed at a cost of 1.8 million euros, the investment will be recovered within a period of 15 years, and among the solar park’s advantages is the fact that little staff is needed for maintenance and operation, since just two people are required to handle its daily cleaning and functioning, Otero explained.

Another indication of the utility of this technology is its ability to withstand extreme weather phenomena, since it is designed to tolerate winds of up to 240 kilometers an hour – a strength proven during Hurricane Irma, when all panels were ready for operation just one day after the storm.

Given results obtained in the production of rum with the use of renewable energy and appropriate waste management, as well as studies conducted on health risks and vulnerabilities in the event of natural disasters, the Central Rum Distillery was awarded the Provincial Environmental Prize, as well as a number of quality prizes, including the 2007 international recognition granted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to companies making outstanding efforts to promote cleaner production.

SPECIFICATIONS

-The name of the renowned Cubay brand is of Arawak origin, and emerged from the recovery of the closest rum making tradition in the region, coming from the San Lino distillery in Cienfuegos, where liquor was produced, and El Infierno, located in Sagua la Grande. The experience of these rum makers and the spirits stored in their warehouses were brought to the George Washington sugar mill, in Santo Domingo.

-According to the explanation provided by industrial engineer Carlos Rubén Armas Díaz, director of the Central Rum Distillery, Cubay was first produced in 1996, when the Carta Blanca and Cubay Añejo rums were born, a line that has grown with new types, including Carta Blanca Extra Viejo, Extra Añejo 1870, Elixir 33, and Remedios 500, among others.

-Distinguished as a rum with singular characteristics, very different from those produced in the country’s eastern region, specifically Santiago, which is somewhat sweet, as well as that distilled in the west, especially Havana Club, which is drier, Cubay is an intermediate between the two schools, according to master rum maker César Augusto Martí Marcelo.

-With a production of 400,000 boxes a year, Cubay is available throughout the national market and served at major tourist resorts, in addition to selling well in various nations in Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe, in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Italy, which saw a 40% increase last year.

(Granma)

These views were expressed during an exchange between the member of the Communist Party of Cuba Political Bureau and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Esteban Lazo Hernández, and authorities from Mayabeque, regarding the experimental local government system implemented since the founding of the province on January 9, 2011, following the last political-administrative division of the country.

During the meeting, Lazo Hernández spoke about the dynamics of attending to the population, as part of the perfecting of the People’s Power system, and emphasized the teachings of Fidel and the importance of unity in cadres’ efforts in the leadership, administration and control processes.

Meanwhile, he called for stronger links with the population to learn of their ideas and work with popular participation in the solution of difficulties, with discipline, revolutionary awareness, a fighting spirit and tackling any wrong.

Likewise, he stressed that economic efficiency and quality services are prioritized tasks, verified through the controls and audits carried out by the Permanent Work Commissions. In this sense, he noted it was imperative that the results of such evaluations reach the Administration Councils, and form part of the efforts to tackle the problems identified in each municipality or popular council.

The President of the Cuban Parliament referred to the need for the provincial Assembly and administration councils to demand more efficient operation of their entities, key in the management and execution of the budget.

Lazo Hernández also examined the status of the collection of fines, taxes, accounts receivable and payable in the different entities, the priority of reducing idle or slow-moving inventories, and called for systematic economic planning to achieve prosperous and sustainable socialism. The correct implementation of the Guidelines of the Party and Revolution and the institutionalization process were other issues addressed in the working day.

(Granma)