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Cuba’s Party Congress discusses economic reform

The ongoing 6th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba began a debate on a roadmap to update the country’s economic model on April 17, with discussions held in five committees.
The ongoing 6th Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba began a debateon a roadmap to update the country’s economic model on April 17, withdiscussions held in five committees.

The 32-page draftsocio-economic guidelines document, which is expected to be adopted atthe congress, is the roadmap to update Cuba’s economic model with an aimof improving efficiency of the economy, including expansion of thesmall business economic model, significant cuts to the redundant workforce in the state sector, reduction of subsidies, implementation of anew tax levy and gradual elimination of use of dual currency.

Accordingto President Raul Castro, who is also Second Secretary of the CommunistParty of Cuba, two-thirds of the draft document were revised afterseeking public opinion nationwide. Revisions focused mainly on socio-political, macro-economic issues, construction, real estate,traffic and economic management.

In his political reportpresented at the congress, President Raul Castro stressed the need toensure the Revolution’s inheritance as well as rejuvenation of thecontingent of leading officials of the Party and Government./.
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