The Cuban government announced on Monday new measures aimed at increasing the participation of Cubans living abroad in the national economy, including the possibility of accessing land for usufruct to develop productive projects on the island.
During an appearance on the television program Mesa Redonda, the deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, explained that the decisions aim to create opportunities for the Cuban diaspora to engage more directly in economic activities within the country.
One of the most striking points of the announcement is the granting of land on usufruct to Cubans living outside the island, even if they do not maintain actual residency in the country. According to the official, this measure would allow for channeling investments, knowledge, and experiences from emigrants into the agricultural sector and other projects related to production.
The initiative is part of a broader package of provisions that also includes the possibility for Cubans abroad to participate as partners or owners of private companies in Cuba. This participation would not be limited to small businesses but could also encompass larger-scale projects related to infrastructure and other economic initiatives.
However, the announcement also raises doubts among many Cubans both on and off the island, due to the recent history of government measures that have affected private property and investments. The memory of the large expropriations of the 1960s is combined with more recent episodes, such as the closures of private businesses, confiscations of goods, cancellation of licenses, or sudden regulatory changes that have impacted entrepreneurs within the country.
These circumstances fuel skepticism among the diaspora regarding the real guarantees and legal stability that an investment or productive project in Cuba could possess, even amidst new promises of economic openness.
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