Cuba Encourages Service Exports

The sector of professional services linked to information technology, research, tourism and healthcare embraces over 50 percent of Cuba’s income money out of exports.

Cuba’s Foreign Trade Minister Raul de la Nuez explained the professional level of the island nation’s workforce “is creating ideal conditions to foster and advance the export of professional services linked to intellectual activities.”

Back in the 1990s when Cuba started out an all-out overhaul of its foreign trade, authorities boosted up the development of service exports in such fields as accounting, auditing, information technology and research.

Major demand for communication, building, civil engineering, healthcare, travel and tourism services also hit new record highs over the past decade.

“Up to this very moment, the export of tourism services has carried the brunt of this foreign trade activity,” Mr. de la Nuez told a group of local news organizations.