The Cuban-Chinese joint venture SUMAI S.A. received its first container of goods from China in Holguín and is progressing with the renovation of the Las Novedades market, located in the heart of the City of Parks, where a new commercial space will soon open, the Business Group of Commerce of the eastern province reported on Thursday through its profile on Facebook.
The official announcement presented the operation as part of the transformations aimed at promoting economic and social development and stimulating foreign investment in domestic trade.
The images shared show the premises undergoing renovation, with painting, plastering, and furniture preparation underway.
SUMAI S.A. was established in January 2025 by the Cuban company ALBUS S.A. and the Chinese company Hangzhou Iunke Industrial Development Co., Ltd. The entity operates under the Investment and Trade Platform for Latin America (PICLA), an initiative linked to the Belt and Road Initiative.
Their offer includes solar panels, food, construction materials, hardware, appliances, household items, and school supplies.
Among their products are monocrystalline solar panels with a capacity of 590 watts and a maximum efficiency of 23.2%, a particularly significant offer in a country that experiences electricity generation deficits exceeding 2,000 MW and daily blackouts lasting over 20 hours.
The company began its testing phase in Camagüey on December 31, 2025, and subsequently extended its operations to Havana and Holguín. In April, the provincial broadcaster Radio Angulo reported on the arrival of PICLA in the province, initially focusing on the textile and footwear sectors.
However, access to these establishments is conditioned by a reality that the official announcement does not mention. SUMAI is authorized to operate exclusively in U.S. dollars, either in cash or through authorized cards in Cuba.
In a country where the average salary does not reach 20 dollars a month, this marketing model limits access for those who obtain that currency through other means, while the government presents the expansion of Cuban-Chinese trade as part of its economic transformations.
The legal framework that supports these initiatives includes the Decree-Law 114/2025, published in the Official Gazette on March 3, which established the figure of the mixed S.R.L. for alliances between state enterprises and non-state actors.
Likewise, the Decree 153/2026, dated July 9, modified the regulations of the Foreign Investment Law to facilitate the influx of foreign capital.
Eimy Iturralde, the commercial manager of SUMAI S.A., has stated that the company was established to provide "a broader, more varied, and competitive offer." What she did not clarify is for whom.
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