Cuba to prioritize strategic investments in 2026

HAVANA, Cuba, January 27 (ACN) Cuban government announced that in 2026 investments will be concentrated in priority sectors of the economy, such as food production, national industry, and the electrical power system, backed by a budget of 173.662 billion pesos, the Granma newspaper reported.

Manuel Marrero Cruz, Prime Minister of the Republic, and Joaquin Alonso Vazquez, Minister of Economy and Planning, informed the National Assembly of People's Power last December that 67 % of the investments will be allocated to strategic sectors, with 95 % going to ongoing projects.

Among the main projects is the modernization of the Jose Marti metallurgical complex, known as Antillana de Acero, in the Havana municipality of Cotorro, which will allow the production of 160,000 tons of rolled steel annually and meet domestic demand.

The modernization of the 26 de Julio cement factory in Nuevitas, Camagüey, is also expected to be completed, with the goal of increasing its production capacity from 150,000 to 750,000 tons per year, along with the construction of the new CementosMoncada plant in Santiago de Cuba.

The plan includes investments in agricultural, forestry, tobacco, and livestock programs, as well as in renewable energy sources, with new photovoltaic solar parks and improvements to thermal power plants to support the National Electric Power System.

According to authorities, the plan is to complete 5,370 state-owned housing units and make progress on another 3,790, in addition to carrying out hydraulic works to improve water pumping, aqueduct and sewage networks, and installing water meters.

In the tourism sector, work is underway to improve 21 hotels belonging to the Ministry of Tourism and 17 belonging to the Gaviota Business Group, while in biotechnology, projects are being developed to produce serums, vaccines, and biofertilizers.

The plan includes the repair of equipment for the Civil Aviation Corporation, investments in telecommunications and oil, and in the social sphere it prioritizes the Basic List of Medicines, the Demographic Dynamics policy, the Turquino Plan and attention to vulnerable communities.