Food Programs Top the Agenda
The Cuban Food Industry is making an over-150-million-dollar investment, the largest ever made by that branch of the economy, announced a report submitted to the Cuban parliament´s ordinary session.

The meeting attended by President Fidel Castro on Saturday dealt on the effort to increase the supply and quality of food for the population, among other topics.

Cuban Food Industry Minister Alejandro Roca said his sector has grown by a 10-percent average annual rate over the past five years, and has seen a 7-percent growth during the first four months of this year, even when all scheduled investment projects are not yet being implemented.

The largest productions in 2005 were observed in six particular areas including bread, soybean yogurt, vegetable oil. However, he said even with the increased production the country has still not yet met all the needs of the population and the national economy.

Some of the major investments made in the food industry included the remodeling of wheat processing facilities, equipping 342 modern bakery facilities, where bread is made fresh and sold to the population.

The Cuban minister said that Cuba is using national technology in the production of milk and soy yogurt.

Other investments included the production and distribution of chocolate throughout the island, plus the purchase in China of 980 electric bakeries, which when delivered and installed are expected to have a positive impact on the quality of bread distributed to the population.