Representatives of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) confirmed the economic and social impact of the revitalization of the local productive chain of construction materials in the province of Ciego de Ávila.
During the exchange, Ismel Gómez Colina, director of the Construction Materials Production Company (PROMAC) emphasized the contributions of the international cooperation project by creating capacities that allowed the recovery of almost 30,000 homes in the last three years, out of the more than 31,000 affected people by Irma Hurricane.
The transfer of specialized production and transportation equipment to five mini-industries enabled a considerable increase in the manufacture of aggregates, blocks, mosaics, tanks for storing water and other items, resources that were available to 2 557 families affected and benefited with subsidies, in addition to keep within reach of some 1,800 who build with their own effort.
During their visit to the mini-industries located in the municipality of Chambas, the representatives of the aforementioned organizations also learned about the impact of the project on the generation of jobs and the training of about 60 people, mostly young people.
Peter Tschumi, director of SDC, was satisfied with the yields and quality of the products, which demonstrates the optimal use of the equipment to meet the demands of the recovery process and contributes to the increase in the housing fund.
Maribel Gutiérrez, UNDP resident representative in Cuba, highlighted that the achievements exceed the expectations of a medium-sized project, whose relevance lies in the economic and social impact, and the ability to meet the country's needs.
The initiative to support the revitalization of the local production chain of construction materials covers the provinces of Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey, where 13 mini-industries have been modernized, 11 of them for the production of concrete elements and 2 others for ceramic elements.
According to the information provided by the UNDP, in the span of one year, the productions of these entities benefit 20,000 people, a figure equivalent to about 5,000 families and the same number of homes.
Under the motto of Rebuilding better and based on five plans, the United Nations System supports Cuba in the recovery after the passage of Hurricanes Sandy, Matthew and Irma, the tornado in Havana and the implementation of the socioeconomic plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through this and other aid programs, the revitalization of a total of 75 mini-industries in the country has been supported to produce wall, floor and ceiling elements for the reconstruction of buildings for social purposes.
