The Cuban economy will see drastic changes in 2011, but all reforms will be aimed at preserving and strengthening socialism in the country, Cuban President Raul Castro said.
"Year 2011 marks the beginning of a five-year period included in the mid-term plan of our economic development," Castro said in a speech to the Cuban parliament on Saturday. "We will consistently introduce step-by-step reforms of the Cuban economic model."
Starting next year, Cuba plans to expand the private sector and reduce the role of the state in the economy by cutting government-paid jobs by 500,000 and allowing more people to work for themselves.
Castro reiterated that all these measures would be aimed at preserving the socialist regime established in the country after a 1959 Communist revolution.
"The measures that are being taken and all the changes that we must introduce to implement this economic model have one goal - to preserve and strengthen socialism...," Castro said.
The Cuban government hopes to achieve 3.1 percent economic growth in 2011, up from 2.1 percent this year, following an extended recession caused by the global economic crisis.
HAVANA, December 19 (RIA Novosti)
