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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedJuly 29, 2026Miami-Dade

Cuba Expands Private Sector Roles in Healthcare, Energy, and Trade

The Cuban government has formalized a new set of economic reforms allowing private entities to operate in sectors previously controlled exclusively by the state, including pharmacies, elder care, and oil exploration. These changes are part of a broader 176-measure package intended to address ongoing economic challenges and supply shortages.

economic reformprivate sectorhealthcareenergysmall businessCuba
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Why It Matters

Residents and private business owners in Cuba will now be permitted to operate in previously restricted industries, potentially altering access to essential services like medicine and elderly care while changing the landscape for small and medium-sized enterprises ().

Key Facts

  • The government formalized 176 economic measures to allow private sector participation in previously state-controlled industries.
  • Private entities (pymes and cooperatives) are now permitted to manage pharmaceutical services.
  • Private individuals and entities are authorized to operate elder care residences.
  • Regulations for wholesale and retail trade by private individuals have been relaxed.
  • Importation of electric vehicles and parts is now permitted for private actors.
  • Oil exploration is now open to mixed enterprises, private individuals, and foreign investors under specific conditions.
  • Extraction of metal minerals is restricted for individuals but permitted for pymes, while large-scale mining is reserved for foreign or joint economic associations.
  • Of the 125 previously restricted activities, 46 were removed from state control and 35 were liberalized.
  • There are currently approximately 15,600 small and medium-sized enterprises (pymes) operating in Cuba.
  • The reforms are presented as a complement to the state network to address medicine shortages.

Who's Mentioned

other125“Previous number of restricted activities”other95“Age of Raúl Castro”other35“Number of activities liberalized for private initiative”other46“Number of activities removed from state-only control”personLázara Mercedes López Acea“President of the National Institute of Non-State Economic Actors”personMiguel Díaz-Canel“President of Cuba”organizationSherritt“Canadian mining company”personBruno Rodríguez“Foreign Minister of Cuba”other176“Total number of economic measures in the reform package”other15.600“Number of active pymes (small/medium enterprises) in Cuba”personRaúl Castro“Former leader of Cuba”other71“Age of Francisco Carbajal”organizationAsamblea Nacional del Poder Popular“Cuban Parliament”