Former Cuban president Raul Castro has publicly endorsed a set of wide-ranging economic reforms aimed at stabilising the country’s struggling economy, as Havana moves forward with measures designed to attract investment and expand the private sector.
According to official accounts, Castro expressed his support in a letter presented during an extraordinary plenary session of the Communist Party politburo on Wednesday. In the message, he described the proposed changes as “the most beneficial to the revolution at this time.”
The reforms form part of a broader government strategy introduced by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who has framed the package as the most significant economic shift in years. Several of the measures are expected to be reviewed and potentially approved by the National Assembly on Thursday, only days after their announcement.
The government’s plan includes opening additional sectors to private investment, encouraging financial inflows from Cubans living abroad, and reducing the size and role of the state in key areas of the economy. Authorities have also indicated intentions to streamline government institutions by cutting ministries and reducing public sector employment.
Officials say the reforms are intended to revitalise an economy under severe strain, with shortages of essential goods and ongoing energy disruptions contributing to public hardship. The government has also pointed to ongoing negotiations with Washington in the context of strained relations and sanctions.
Private enterprise, which was formally permitted to expand in 2021 and can employ up to 100 workers, is expected to play a larger role under the new framework. The state has also suggested that Cuban citizens will receive investment conditions comparable to foreign investors, despite continued external pressure and sanctions affecting the island’s economy.
