• Submitted by: admin
• Science and Technology
• 12 / 28 / 2006

The first batch of Belarusian buses will arrive in the port of Havana early next year. On the whole, in accordance with the agreements the sides have reached, Belarus will supply 100 buses to Cuba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cuba to Belarus Omar Medina Quintero said at todays press conference. The press conference was timed to a national holiday of Cuba " the Revolution Victory Day.

The ambassador stressed, over 48 years since the victory of the revolution, his country has achieved a great success despite the severe economic embargo imposed by the USA. In particular, in 2006 Cubas GDP grew by 12.5 per cent. The countrys economic policy is aimed at strengthening the energy security, restoring the transportation system, implementing a housing programme and improving living standards of the people. In 2006 the country significantly increased the trade turnover and nickel sales. Cuba expanded trade relations with Venezuela and China, increased the volume of services, especially healthcare ones. Profits of the tourism industry " one of the most rapidly developing industries in Cuba " have increased substantially. In 2006 alone around 2.5 million tourists visited the island. Omar Medina Quintero also underlined the significant advance of the civil engineering industry.

Cuba has achieved an essential success in the healthcare and education. More and more young Cubans study at universities not only in the capital city, but in provinces as well. Out of 633,000 students almost 480,000 study at 3,150 municipal universities, which have been founded recently.