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On the potential and development alternatives of Cuban industry, BOHEMIA talks with Ricardo Torres Pérez, Doctor in Economics and Sciences researcher of the subject. The next industrial revolution is here and will jarring to many producers. A plastic cartridge that was previously done in China, now, with a small printer, you can produce personalized way. In the world and are manufactured to 3D prototype cars, "says D.Sc. Economics Ricardo Torres Pérez, professor and researcher at the Centre for the Study of the Cuban Economy (CEEC). Cuba is not immune to this new technological wave. "For example, in one of the companies in the Scientific Pole, the latest developments are used to hearing aids, while at the University of Havana there is a draft reproduction of antique lamps, in which he introduced the design to a machine and this made the object, plastic material, "says the interviewee. When asked how delineate the industrial development of the island in this changing scenario, Torres Pérez analyzes the complexities of industrialization in recent years, the challenges that national companies face in entering the value chains of the world economy, and the effects of exchange duality in national productions. He notes industrialize the country between 1959 and 1989 thanks to the support of the socialist camp and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA). However, there were three problems, which would later become major weaknesses. The first, associated with an unsuccessful industry since highly concentrated in the domestic market in terms of exports, particularly sugar industry, which acted as a locomotive of other sectors. Second, the technological pattern had a very high energy density, which detracted competitiveness, and finally, the national industry survived, but on the basis of a model of international insertion very favorable.

"When the socialist camp disappeared it was found that the Cuban productions were unaffordable and therefore, in the last 25 years Cuba has experienced a process of stagnation and even decline in that sector of the industry." Academic recognizes that there is currently a debate on the term industrialization and its role within economies. "Cuba exports more services than you goods. The percentage represents the industry in the gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining. Like there is a decrease in manufacturing employment within the total employed in the economy. percentage representing the industry in the gross domestic product (GDP) has been declining. Like there is a decrease in manufacturing employment within the total employed in the economy. Investing in greatest potential. Fixed costs for the industry are high, so it is necessary to invest in higher potential, both to meet domestic demand and for export. "The same happens in other countries, but the difference is that in our case the contraction occurs not only in relative terms, but also absolute.

There is a decrease in a group of key productions, below 1989 results, regardless of price. " To illustrate, refers to three major sectors: the mechanical and transport means production, the sugar industry, and new information technologies and communications. "The only sectors that have advanced without foreign investment are biotechnology and medical-pharmaceutical industry. Out of these, companies that have succeeded have succeeded in teaming up with foreign capital -the mixtas- calls, as has happened in the food industry and nickel, for example. "It was also a good result jump-start, with the support of Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (Pdvsa), the Cienfuegos oil refinery. But beyond that, our industry leaves much to be desired. "