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Cuban Lawmakers' Nod For Economic Reforms
Communist Cuba on Monday took a historic step toward dismantling its state-controlled economy with the National Assembly giving its nod for President Raul Castro's plans to give a fillip to the country's stagnating economy, media reports said.
Henceforth small-scale entrepreneurs will be allowed to set up shop in the Caribbean nation. Also, the reforms will mean an end to bureaucratic red-tapism.
Earlier addressing lawmakers, Castro indicated that changes could well be introduced to Cuba's controversial travel and emigration rules. According to him, the time had come for ushering in political and social reforms and warned that those trying to undermine the reform process would be prosecuted. "Let's clean our heads of all sorts of nonsense," he said.
Besides, Castro told the National Assembly that the government was "working to orchestrate the modernisation" of the country's migration policies. For long, rights groups had flayed Cuba's emigration policy which required its citizens to secure government's prior permission for traveling abroad.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly is set to discuss a slew of proposals put forward by the President which include downsizing of the country's massive government workforce, restricting state involvement in key areas like farming, retail and infrastructure before giving its formal endorsement.
Even as the state-controlled enterprises move out in order to give space for small-scale businesses, the government will also phase out state subsidies for goods and public utility services.
Analysts though say the implementation of economic reforms mooted by Castro will be easier said than done as it is likely to encounter stiff resistance from party officials who face the prospect of unemployment.
The septuagenarian Raul Castro, who had earlier served as Cuba's Defense Minister, took over as President from his brother Fidel after the latter was forced to step down over health concerns.
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