Politics and Economics


Head of state Raúl Castro

Capital: Havana

Legal system: based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory.

Political parties and leaders: One party – the Communist Party of Cuba, or PCC.

Diplomatic representation in the U.S.: none; Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, ​​Address: Cuba Interests Section, Embassy of Switzerland.

Flag description : five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white, a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side is a white five-pointed star in the center.

Economy

Cuba has achieved GDP growth in double digits in two consecutive years since 2005 and is expected to Cuba’s economic growth in 2007 will remain above 10%. According to economists, the prosperity of tourism and the sharp increase in the export of nickel are the main causes of economic growth in Cuba.

This is a result of the international situation and the expansion of intensive activities, especially the export of medical services to Venezuela despite this, challenges remain that need to be addressed: real wages deteriorated, the dual currency and the stagnation of agricultural production , which requires the allocation of resources to imports and raises food prices are some of the most important. To address them, we need for a profound economic reform.

Circulating in Cuba two currencies, the PESO CONVERTIBLE (CUC) also called “little kid” and the Cuban peso (CUP).

The CUC is equivalent to the U.S. dollar.

However changing dollars to CUC Cuba is taxed at 10%.

Approximately (currencies fluctuate daily against the dollar):

For 100 euros you will get (including commissions): approximately 135 cuc

For 100 U.S. dollars will get (including charge and 10% tax): 86 CUC

However, this assessment does not exist when you change out their surplus dollars to CUC.

THE BEST IS CHANGED TO EUROS IN YOUR COUNTRY AND BRING EUROS TO CUBA

The Cuban Peso (CUP) is used to pay only in cinemas or markets (agros) outdoors. You can buy very cheap tropical fruits, vegetables, etc..

The foreigner has to pay almost everything in CUC, for example, in supermarkets, like Westerners, is paid in convertible pesos (CUC). For a given 24 CUC pesos.

Credit cards VISA and MASTERCARD are accepted provided they are not issued by U.S. banks, but take cash with them has a lien, because usually the currency of your country is changed to USD previously and 10% surcharge applies more the commissions. No traveler’s checks issued by U.S. banks are changed.

Look after your cash and stay legalized only in private homes.

Change some money to CUC before leaving the airport for the first expenses.

Insist that give small cuc banknotes of 1, 5, 10 and 20, (also to pay the taxi driver).

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