Economy
Cuba is expanding and streamlining its three major ports with the help of Venezuela and China. The Caribbean island is planning to receive ships of greater tonnage after the projected expansion of the Panama Canal.

"These works have been carried out in the ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, which operate 80 percent of Cuban imports, thanks to a loan agreement between China and Cuba," said Miguel González, the Director General of the port company Empresa de Servicios Portuarios de Ciudad de La Habana.
González also said that they are expecting a monetary contribution from the joint company Puertos del ALBA, established to promote the development and modernization of Venezuelan and Cuban ports.

He recalled that in the eighties, when Cuba and the Soviet Union had an alliance, Cuban ports shipped 12 million tons of merchandises, AFP reported. "This amount has declined to about 3 million. There are plenty of reasons, particularly the global economic crisis that is affecting us today. Therefore, the port capacity that existed at that time is not required nowadays," he said. His Havana company, which can operate 1,200,000 tons per year, is currently operating 600,000 to 700,000 tons."