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Cuban Province Increases Charcoal Exports

SANTA CLARA, Cuba, Jun 22 (acn) A Forest Company in the central Cuban province of Villa Clara has exported more than 280 tons of charcoal since January this year, as part of an annual export plan of over 500 tons.

A representative of the company, Anastacio Herrera, explained ACN that in 2002 they commercialized 60 tons of charcoal derived from sickle bush trees, a figure that gradually increased.

Herrera pointed out that the production is carried out by nearly 60 workers, who are paid when work is done and receive food benefits, proper clothing and the necessary means for their physical protection.

He said that most of the workers operate in the municipalities of Corralillo, Santo Domingo and Quemado de Guines because this bush is more profuse in these territories and thus there are more raw materials available.

Sources of the Ministry of Agriculture affirm that the provinces of Las Tunas, Ciego de Avila, and Villa Clara have been traditional producers of charcoal, and have contributed with the biggest amounts for exports.

A quality specialist, Estela Fernandez, noted that the enterprise monitors production closely, from the cutting of lumber until the packing, with the entire process lasting about 20 days.

Fernandez mentioned that the elaboration process follows specific technical parameters, like size and thickness, which vary in accordance with the kind of plant used and the demands of the customers.

She added that the quality of the product depends on the intensity of fire and the professionalism of the workers to get it out on time. She explained that the loss of the quality required for exports affects the payment of workers and the economy of the country; therefore, there is a strict control.

Fernandez stated that Spain is the principal market for this Cuban product, so far clients are satisfied with it and there is a high demand of Cuban charcoal derived from sickle bush trees.

agricultura/acm/11.30 AM/aga Incrementa Villa Clara exportaciones de carbón vegetal

Cuban News Agency www.cubanews.ain.cu ainnews@ain.cu

acnnews 6 Cuba to Increase Exports of Juice Concentrate

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 4 (acn) The Cuban Vice Minister of Agriculture, Juan Perez Lamas, told ACN that the program for the recovery of fruit trees in Cuba will result in the increase of the exports of juice concentrate. Perez affirmed that with this strategy they intend to produce over 20 tons per hectare, which will suffice for national consumption and the reduction of imports, an economic priority amidst the current financial global crisis. He noted that Cuba has enough resources and facilities to produce juice concentrate of citrus and other fruit. Nowadays, there are several cooperation projects with member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas (ALBA), which favour exports. The Jaguey Grande experimental station of the Victoria de Giron Enterprise, in Matanzas province, is developing national crops for exports. Its specialists and researches are developing a new variant of tangerine, whose maturing process and harvest moves forward to the ends of August and September. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture notes that this organization is planning to expand the production of citrus and fruit to more than 100 cooperatives with all technology in the interest of boosting productivity.

Economy/acm/ef/14:20

Cuba incrementará exportaciones de jugos concentrados

Cuban News Agency www.cubanews.ain.cu ainnews@ain.cu

acnnews 9 Cuba Increases Cigar Exports by 7.5 percent on 2010

HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 20 (acn) Cuba increased this year its exports of mechanized cigars by 7.5 percent in relation to 2009, resulting in the sells of about 18.8 million dollars, report government sources. In accordance to a report by the Empresa Internacional Cubana de Tabaco S.A., published by the Granma newspaper, the production was estimated in 119.3 millions cigar units, which accounted for a 7.5 percent increase on the exports. This report notes that the mechanized cigars from this enterprise are made with high technology equipments, using high quality row materials. It adds that, nowadays, this enterprise includes products of ten cigar brands, among them: vitola Mini, Club, Puritos, Minutos, Universales, Cristales, Guantanamera and Standard.

Economy/acm/5.00 PM/aga

Cuban News Agency www.cubanews.ain.cu ainnews@ain.cu

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