Geneva, Mar 16 (Prensa Latina) The US economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba hinders the use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and ongoing digital transformation, First Deputy Minister of Communications Wilfredo Gonzalez denounced in Geneva on Thursday.

n statements to Prensa Latina in a sideline of the Forum of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), which is taking place in this Swiss city, the head of the Cuban delegation addressed the consequences of Washington’s aggressive policy in a sector where Cuba is committed to inclusive development.

The limitations due to the blockade are many, and range from communications to access to information, stressed the senior official, who discussed here the impact of Washington’s blockade on several sectors.

According to Gonzalez, the impossibility for Cuba to access dozens of international platforms for data exchange and participation illustrates the magnitude of the damage caused by a policy that has been enforced for more than 60 years.

The first deputy minister of Communications also referred to other aspects of Washington’s aggressiveness against Cuba, particularly destabilization actions through the use of ICTs and the blocking of sites and accounts on social networks.

During our participation in the 2023 edition of the annual WSIS Follow-up Forum, we shared Cuba’s achievements and progress in digital transformation, despite the challenges we face, especially the economic, commercial and financial blockade, he commented.

In this regard, he mentioned the development of the telecommunications infrastructure, with Internet access coverage close to 70 percent of the population, the steps taken based on the Government and electronic Commerce and the creation of their own platforms to facilitate procedures, support the economy and improve the daily lives of human beings.

We continue to promote digital transformation, which we do by taking advantage of the scientific-technical capabilities of the human capital created by the Revolution and working in this process under the premise of cybersecurity, he explained.