The Municipal Company of Commerce of Santa Clara is seeking non-state economic actors to take over the management of 16 stores in the city, with incentives that include up to two years without rent payments and tax facilities for those who agree to manage the establishments.
The state entity opened the bidding as part of the "Community Market" project, and set September 15 as the deadline for submitting applications.
The call is aimed at companies, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes), cooperatives, self-employed workers (TCP), foreign investment modalities, and other authorized economic actors.
The properties will continue to be owned by the state. What is transferred through the bidding process is their administration and commercial management.
The 16 included warehouses are La Llave, Valle del Yabú, Aeropuerto, La Industrial, La Villareña, La Novedad, La Esquina, La Ideal, La Victoria, 9 de Abril, El Espejo, La Central, El Educado, Brisas del Oeste, La Gomera, and Casilla La Cubera, distributed across various popular councils in Santa Clara.
One of the main incentives is the exemption from rent payment during the first two years. This benefit can be extended for an additional two years if the manager has made investments in the establishment.
The call also includes the possibility of expanding the product offering through reductions in import tariffs and tax benefits for certain wholesale sales.
According to the company, the goal is to "restore the image of local establishments and maintain a social focus within the community." The model also stipulates that certain products must be sold in Cuban pesos at prices 10% to 15% lower than those of comparable establishments.
Interested parties must submit their applications to the Municipal Commerce Office, located at Calle Colón No. 56, between San Cristóbal and Candelaria, from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
The company also published the form that applicants must complete, which requests to identify the type of management —TCP, small and medium enterprises, cooperative, investor, or other—, the main and secondary activities of the project, and the establishments that are intended to be managed.
The form also includes a section for declaring the currency in which the applicant operates, with options of CUP, USD, or both, as well as whether they have had previous dealings with the Municipal Commerce Company. The awarding will be subject to the evaluation of a committee, which will have the authority to approve or reject the application.
The "Neighborhood Market" project was established through the , published in the Official Gazette on August 4 and in effect since the 11th of that month.
The supplemented the framework with tax incentives, including a 5% rebate on the Sales Tax for certain products and exemptions on some wholesale operations.
In the midst of the crisis facing the state retail network, similar calls have multiplied in various regions of the country over the past few months.
In August, the Municipal Trading Company of Ciego de Ávila put six warehouses up for bidding, while in Cienfuegos, the management of 47 butcher shops was handed over to private actors, representing 68% of the existing ones in that province.
Also in Villa Clara, the state chain CARIBE has opened a bidding process for kiosks and other establishments spread across eight municipalities.
The announcements come at a time of profound transformation and deterioration of the state distribution system. In 2026, the ration book continues to operate with reduced and irregular deliveries in numerous areas of the country, while the government has introduced changes to the subsidy system and is seeking new ways to keep the commercial network operational.
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