As economic reforms introduced by the government of Cuba have started to take hold, there are still many challenges for the private sector. Private enterprises have emerged that include restaurants, shops, guest accommodations, and transportation. However, one of the biggest obstacles is access to financial services and particularly for small entrepreneurs. While remittances from overseas Cubans has helped to fuel private businesses, it is not sufficient to grow the sector. Introducing microfinance into Cuba could help alleviate access and promote economic growth. What is the current (and future) economic and financial framework in Cuba that will permit microfinance initiatives to emerge in Cuba? Dr. Triana has proposed possibilities for mobilizing microfinance as a sustainable vehicle to economic development of the Cuban economy. He will discuss existing challenges, obstacles, and opportunities.
Dr. Juan Triana Cordovi
Dr. Triana is a Senior Researcher teaches at the University of Havana’s Center for the Study of the Cuban Economy. He earned a doctorate in Economic Sciences in 1999 at the University of Havana and di post-doctoral research at the University of Wolverhampton (UK). He is a member of the commission that advises the Cuban government on its economic reform program. He has written extensively about Cuba’s economy and has advocated for microfinance in Cuba.
Impact Capital Forum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. New York, N.Y.