This week, Cuba approved the operation of 64 new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), bringing the total number of approved businesses to nearly 11,000, as reported by the Ministry of Economy and Planning (MEP). The newly approved businesses will be privately managed and will focus on providing services such as gastronomy, transportation, maintenance and repair of vehicles and motorcycles.
Among the newly approved MSMEs, some will be responsible for distributing and delivering merchandise from abroad, while others will offer construction services, rental of properties, clothing and footwear production, computer programming, and food processing. The return of MSMEs to the Cuban economic landscape is aimed at filling the gap left by state-run enterprises in importing goods that are not readily available for various reasons.
MSMEs in Cuba are recognized as independent economic entities with legal status, and can be state-owned, private, or mixed businesses. However, they are prohibited from operating in certain priority sectors such as health, telecommunications, energy, defense, and media.
Currently, there are a total of 10,927 official businesses operating in Cuba, including MSMEs, state enterprises, non-agricultural cooperatives, and self-employed workers. Despite their presence in the economic scene, MSMEs have faced criticism from consumers for high product prices and a reliance on cash-only payments, which limits their acceptance in some communities.