Marrero Cruz: Main Challenge Lies Not in Program Design, but in Turning Planning into Concrete Results

While assessing compliance with the Government Program to correct distortions and reinvigorate the economy, Political Bureau member Manuel Marrero Cruz stated that the program is aligned with strategic priorities, but its success will depend on the ability to prioritize tasks, execute with greater discipline, reduce fragmentation, integrate actors, and secure essential resources, particularly in energy, foreign currency, and domestic production.

“The main challenge is not the design of the Program, but rather converting planning into concrete, measurable, and perceptible results for the population, while preserving sovereignty, political stability, and social justice.”

Marrero Cruz detailed that, since its presentation, a continuous updating process has been carried out.

“Following an extensive process of debate and consultation with experts, academics, and specialists from various sectors of the economy, the Program was structured into 106 specific objectives, 342 actions, and 264 indicators and targets.”

Commenting on the context in which the government program is being developed, Marrero Cruz noted that global growth has remained at moderate levels, with estimates around 3%, a trend associated with geopolitical fragmentation, trade tensions, and volatility in energy and logistics markets.

“In this already complex scenario, Cuba continues to face the accumulated impact of the economic, commercial, and financial war waged by the United States Government, reinforced in recent years with unilateral coercive measures that have increased both the severity and scope of the sanctions and their extraterritoriality.”

In general, the Government Program to correct distortions and reinvigorate the economy has had to be executed under limited conditions, with reduced availability of electrical services, fuel, restricted access to convertible currency, and inflationary pressures generated by a combination of external and internal factors.

Regarding progress in implementing the Government Program, he reported that of the 90 directives associated with the ten general objectives, 49 have been fulfilled and the rest are in different phases of implementation.

“During the period, efforts focused on continuing the gradual process of controlling the fiscal deficit and executing the State Budget; studying and implementing measures to make policies and regulations on foreign investment more flexible; as well as the participation of nationals residing in Cuba and abroad with the financial capacity to engage with different economic actors.”

Furthermore, the improvement of wage organization in the business system and the functioning of the National Institute of Non-State Economic Actors were approved. Other results are reflected in the partial increase of pensions, which benefited 88% of retirees, and investment in photovoltaic solar panels.

“During the second half of the year, intensive work has been done to prepare the conditions related to the currency transformation and the new mechanism for the management, control, and allocation of foreign exchange.”

He later emphasized that the program's discussion and analysis process is a space for internal review and defining what more can be done for its implementation.

Other aspects of the government plan's progress, as well as the next steps in its execution, will be reported in the upcoming ordinary session of the National Assembly.