The US blockade violates the right to development of the Cuban people

New York, October 23, 2017. The right to development in Cuba is limited by the negative impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States. Sectors such as biotechnology, tourism, mining, renewable energies, telecommunications, among others, have suffered considerable loss due to this unjust and illegal policy.

In the field of biotechnology, a sector that has shown its capacity to develop new products, medicines, equipment and high-tech services aimed at improving the health of the Cuban people and other peoples of the world, as well as the generation of goods and exportable services and advanced technologies for food production, the economic impact caused by the blockade amounted to 322,993,600 dollars from April 2016 to June 2017.

In addition to the serious consequences for the Cuban people, the blockade also prevents US citizens from benefiting, directly and without violating their country's laws, from biotechnology and pharmaceutical products developed in Cuba.

On the other hand, the tourism industry in Cuba also reported heavy damages as a result of the blockade. In the period evaluated, the damages caused by this policy amounted to 1,701, 960, 000 dollars.

Studies show that, on average, 1.5 million Americans may have traveled to Cuba in the absence of regulations imposed by the United States government. As a result, the Cuban tourism industry lost about 1.5 million dollars of income, taking into account the potential number of US tourists and the average expenditure per stay.

In the sector of communications and computing, including telecommunications, damages amounting to 68, 922,110 dollars were recorded in the same period.

Cuba has experienced a very tense situation in the last three years as a result of a prolonged drought. This situation is aggravated by the implementation of the US blockade, which affects the development of hydraulic infrastructure in the country, generating a loss to that sector amounting to 2,358,817 dollars.

Changing the energy matrix and advancing in the use of renewable energy sources are priority objectives of the Cuban State. The Energy and Mining sector in Cuba is one of the most affected by the economic, commercial and financial blockade. From April 2016 to June 2017, the implementation of this policy resulted in a loss amounting to 122, 584,708 dollars, representing an increase from the previous year of $ 16, 232, 147 dollars.

In the construction sector the damages amounted to 12, 406, 700 dollars. Cuban companies such as IMECO, CONSTRUIMPORT and the Unión de Empresas Constructoras Caribe S.A (UNECA) are forced to import the products from distant markets, such as Asia and Europe, increasing import costs, resulting in freight and insurance loss.

The transport sector suffered a loss amounting to 122, 397, 000 dollars, as a result of the implementation of the blockade policy. This loss has had a negative impact on all entities in the sector, being the Cuban Airport Services Enterprise (ECASA) and Cubana Airlines the most affected. The economic damages to the latter amounted to 49,113, 000, dollars and 21, 617, 000 dollars, respectively.

Undoubtedly, the blockade has a negative impact on the exercise of the right to development of the Cuban people. Only the determination and strong will of the Cuban State and Government, despite this important obstacle, enables us to make decisive progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations