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12-26-05,8:52am
Havana, December 22 (AIN).- The Cuban economy grew by a stunning 11.8 percent in 2005, the greatest increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) since the triumph of the Revolution, said the Minister of Economy and Planning, Jose Luis Rodriguez on Thursday.
The official spoke at the opening of the sixth ordinary session of the current legislature, attended by Cuban president Fidel Castro.
It is a really overwhelming result for the present and future of the nation, emphasized Rodriguez, when presenting his report to the Cuban Parliament on the economic and social development of the nation in 2005.
In Cuba the GDP includes the value added to the social services provided by the country, which have also benefited citizens from other nations.
Cuba is rapidly moving to overcome the shortages of the Special Period (crisis brought on by the collapse of the Socialist Bloc), creating solid perspectives for the development of a society in which justice and solidarity prevail, said the minister before 523 deputies.
Together with the prioritized defense funding, a revolutionary program for the production of energy and energy savings is underway, said the official.
He also noted that an ambitious plan to build houses is slated for 2006 in order to address one of the huge needs of the population.
Rodriguez noted that in the past year a far reaching investment plan to ease the effects of drought began, while the minimum wage, pensions and social assistance increased twice.
The official stated that efforts continue to provide excellent services in health and education to the population.
Rodriguez quoted statements from the UN Economy Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), noting that the accelerated growth of the Cuban economy in 2005 is in part the result of the specialization in highly complex services, for which the nation has been internationally recognized.
CEPAL also noted the dynamism of tourism and construction, and the solidarity assistance provided to other nations such as Guatemala and Pakistan.
Rodriguez said the spectacular growth results came despite the effects of intense drought and the impact of three hurricanes, the effects of high oil prices, deficits in the energy generation sector and a worsening of the US economic blockade towards Cuba.
Increased transportation of cargo and passengers, and greater production of nickel, steel products, cement, paints, pressure cookers, medicines, and food sectors such as poultry and pigs were among the 2005 success stories cited by Rodriguez.
Starting from the deep changes in the economic policy, the nation increased its capacity to obtain credits, reevaluated the Cuban peso 7.4 percent and devaluated the dollar by eight percent.
The tourism industry increased overall by 12 percent with over 2.3 visitors.
Revenues were up 10 percent while costs were lowered.
Regarding foreign trade, exports increased by 27.9 percent and imports by 36 percent, in a large part due to the increase of oil prices.
The increase of the minimum wage, pensions and social services benefitedmore than 5.1 million Cubans in 2005, said Rodriguez.
The Operation Miracle eye-surgery program, that began in 2004 to treat Venezuelan patients, was extended to other Latin American and Caribbean peoples. By December 16, a total of 172,306 operations have already been performed.
Rodriguez said that many of these achievements would not have been possible without putting into practice concepts, ideas and the critical criteria of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in the fight against corruption, and other negative phenomena.
He emphasized that the nation has to ensure its economic invulnerability to guarantee its national security and insisted in the need of increased savings as a main source of the resources demanded by the nation.
The Revolution, he stated, has the duty to defend itself, even from its own mistakes.
When referring to the battle against theft and corruption, Rodriguez highlighted the role of social workers and other Cuban youth.
The minister said a 10 percent growth in the GDP is projected for 2006 compared to the under 4 percent average foreseen in Latin America.
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