Cuba News articles from April 2001

Cuba News archives from April 2001

Cuban plans to produce Bacardi rum, patented medicines could lead to increased tension with the United States.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Cuban President Fidel Castro escalated his war with the exile family that produces Bacardi rum - and possibly the US government - by vowing to export Cuban spirits under the famed rum name. "We have given instructions for our...

Jiang visits Cuba as mutual interests converge.(Pres Jiang Zemin of China)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Havana coincides with a significant convergence of interests between Cuba and China, two nations whose relations with each other have been rocky at times. Although Cuba has largely halted...

Havana Club sales expected to grow.(sales statistics)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... At the end of March, Havana Club Holdings announced at a news conference in the Cuban capital that it forecast a 10% increase in Havana Club sales in 2001. The joint venture sold 1.4 million cases last year.

Canada raises standards on relations with Cuba.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... WASHINGTON - The decision by Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien not to invite Cuba to the April Summit of the Americas in Quebec is a sign the Cuban-Canadian relations have deteriorated. Canada is one of Cuba's largest trading partners...

Bush administration keeps lock on Cuba trade regulations.(Pres Bush)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Rules that would allow sales of food, medical supplies and agricultural products to Cuba continue to be held hostage by the Bush administration, which is weighing the concerns of those who have complained the regulations are too...

Havana makes it harder to call between Cuba and the United States.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- It has gotten more difficult to call between the United States and Cuba following a decision by Havana to try to ensure that all communications between the two nations are subject to a 24.5 per minute surtax. Cuba imposed the tax...

Cigar sector continues to show poor results.(Cuba)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- The government expects 2001 production of high-quality cigars to be about 150 million, a dramatic increase over last year's output of 120 million. Exports were reportedly just 107 million. Officials concede that the industry will...

Spanish company hopes to shoe the masses.(Cicasa Bersol to form joint venture with Cuban shoe manufacturers)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Spanish shoe company Cicasa Bersol is reportedly in talks with Cuban footwear companies about a possible joint venture to manufacture boots used by agricultural workers and sports shoes. The company has been selling its Bersol...

New documents shed light on multitude of fees in trucking industry.(Cuba)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- It's long been true that it is very difficult to know how much things really cost in Cuba. Of course, there is a price for everything, but it's often virtually impossible to determine whether those price reflect economic reality and...

Heber Biotech to sell cosmetics line to rejuvenate skin.(products will contain epidermal growth factor)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Heber Biotech, a state-owned company with the rights to market products developed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in Havana, is launching a new line of cosmetics containing epidermal growth factor. ...

Chile may suspend exports after Cuba defaults on payments.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... SANTIAGO -- Chilean fish producers are threatening to suspend exports of canned mackerel to Cuba unless the Cuban government agrees to settle an outstanding debt of $20 million. Chile exported about $19 million worth of canned mackerel to...

US students' future uncertain after medical school.(passing US exams may prove difficult)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- Eight US students arrived in Havana to begin six years of medical school. The students were the first to accept an offer by Cuban President Fidel Castro to give medical training to up to 500 US citizens from minority groups or of...

Problems with cane supply, mills expected to hit sugar harvest.(Brief Article)(Industry Overview)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- The Cuban sugar industry is in a race against the elements and obsolete infrastructure as it struggles to meet production targets. By April, sucrose levels in sugar cane begin to decline and the country's aging mills and rickety...

Cuba missing opportunity to take advantage of higher sugar prices as nickel softens.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Cuba could be missing a good chance to reduce its adverse foreign trade balance as the sugar harvest, still a key export commodity, is facing serious problems at a time when international market conditions are improving. Sugar exports are...

Latest corporate reorganization concentrates power in handful of boards.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- The government has completed a significant restructuring of the state business sector, consolidating the management of 322 government enterprises into 26 boards of directors. The goal of the reorganization is to emulate the...

SofCal reports strong results for last year.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... HAVANA -- State-owned software company SofCal reported revenues of two million pesos and 1 million dollars in hard currency last year. The first - specializing in business solution - did not release numbers for profits or information about 1999...

Fidelismo : A monthly report on Cuba's maximum leader.(Fidel Castro quotes from the news)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Longest meeting A seven-hour consultation with US actor Kevin Costner during which they discussed Thirteen Days, the US actor's movie about the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Quotes of the month "... a nasty person with a fascist...

RUMOR OF THE DAY.(oil deal between Cuba and Venezuela)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... CARACAS -- Cuban officials claim that the country's deal to buy crude oil and refined products from Venezuela is actually much sweeter than reported. Officials have told visitors that state oil company Cupet is paying just $5 per barrel for...