Growth in Charcoal Exports Generate New Jobs in Central Cuba

Camagüey, Cuba, Aug 30.- The Local Industries Enterprise in the Cuban province of Camagüey, some 500 kilometers east of Havana, hired 165 workers to produce charcoal to export, thereby helping to create jobs in rural areas of the territory.

Jose Antonio Echeverria, director of human resources of the entity, told ACN news agency that the average monthly salary of each worker reached the 536 pesos in that period, a figure above the national average, 455 at the end of 2011 according to figures released by the National Bureau of Statistics and Information.

The workers received 47 000 pesos more as bonuses through July, said the official.

In the municipalities of Minas, Florida, Nuevitas and Esmeralda, the new workers produced from January till the first fortnight of August 72 percent of an annual plan of 1 000 tons, which are to be sold in foreign markets at around 220 USD per ton.

Adalberto Perez, delegate in this central province of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment, said they consider the creation of jobs that as an added value to the production.

There are at the moment 5 Ministry of Agriculture entities producing charcoal for exporting in this province, due to the high demand it has in international markets, and there are plans to boost its local production, said the official. (Radio Cadena Agramonte)