[NYTr] Cuba Assesses a Year of Tough Challenges

[nytr at olm.blythe-systems.com]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (AIN)
http://www.ain.cubaweb.cu

Tough Challenges and Adequate Responses

By Luz Marina Fornieles Sanchez
AIN Special Service

Dec 30 (AIN)--Cuba reported a 5 percent growth of its Gross Domestic Product
for 2004.

This would not be a major story if it weren't for the challenges and
obstacles the island had to endure, and the quick and appropriate answers
that were needed to face them.

Cuba met its primary economic goals and reported important successes in its
social development. Speaking to the last session of the year of the National
Parliament, Economy and Planning Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez said that
conditions were created to make further progress in the coming year.

Rodriguez stressed that the enormous effort made by the Cuban people was
crucial for the GDP growth and noted that the remarkable result shows how
much can be attained with limited resources, if they are adequately used to
satisfy the needs of the people.

Although industrial production suffered from various problems, it grew in 10
of the 22 branches. Mining and non-iron metallurgy, the electronic and sugar
industries, as well as the construction and communications excelled. Nickel
production also played an important role as overall exports increased by
32.5% increase. Export revenues surpassed 2 billion dollars for the first
time since 1991.

Despite the Bush Administration measures aimed at undermining tourism on the
island, 2.05 million tourists visited Cuba in 2004 and the industry grew by
7.6 percent for the period.

Another interesting economic performance statistic was that unemployment was
further reduced to 1.9 percent, reaching an index that can only be attained
in a socialist nation like Cuba.

In 2004 efforts continued to promote comprehensive education and culture for
all Cubans through the introduction and consolidation of numerous social,
cultural and educational programs.

Mother Nature was not benign to Cuba in 2004, and hurricanes Charley and
Ivan hit the island. Severe draught in the eastern provinces, power outages,
oil prices hikes and the new actions by the Bush Administration aimed at
damaging the Cuban economy to make the people cry uncle, were factors faced
during the year.

Amidst such a complex scenario, the revolution emerged victorious and no
victim of the natural disasters was left unattended.

In its 2004 World Report, the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization, -FAO- said that there are 852 million hungry people on the
planet or which 53 million live in Latin America. In that same document Cuba
was recognized as one of the nations that made the most progress in the
fight against malnutrition.

As 2005 approaches, plans on the island are to reinforce the nation's
defensive capacity, maintain food staple distribution through the subsidized
ration card system and meeting other growing consumer needs, as well as
acquiring the indispensable fuel.

Plans also include the revision of energy consumption policies, the
procurement of all supplies needed for the many social programs being
developed by the revolution, the stepping up of prevention against natural
disasters, and the reorganization of the island's economic activity.

Likewise, investment will be devoted to priority sectors likely to yield the
highest income from the economic and social development standpoint, so that
next year, Cuba can repeat its GDP growth of 2004.