HAVANA, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's economy should see a gradual recovery in 2021, with 6 to 7 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP), Deputy Prime Minister Alejandro Gil Fernandez said Thursday.
In presenting the 2021 budget to parliament, he said recovery will depend on "the evolution and control of the pandemic, as well as on fulfilling key activities such as tourism and exports."
Gil Fernandez, who is also minister of Economy and Planning, forecast 19 percent growth in foreign revenue from the sale of goods and services.
That forecast is based on on a gradual recovery in tourism and the arrival of 2.2 million foreign visitors, doubling the number expected this year, he said.
"We are entering 2021 with great challenge," he said. "We will not be able to make great leaps, but we will do it gradually, sharing what we have fairly and developing ourselves."
The year 2021 will be one of "great transformations" in Cuba, as the country embarks on monetary unification and adopts currency exchange reforms, he said.
During the session, legislators approved the 2021 budget, which includes price modifications, wage reform, and the elimination of "excessive subsidies and undue gratuities," among other measures. Enditem
