The Cuban nickel industry plans to produce around 62 000 t of unrefined nickel plus cobalt in 2013, according to local and foreign company reports.

The withdrawal by Iberia from Caribbean markets, such as Cuba and Santo Domingo has raised the interest by other airlines in taking over. Air Europe already announced flights to the Dominican Republic in April, after the Spanish air company cancels that route.

Cuban cigar sales rose last year despite the ongoing economic crisis in some of the most important European markets, including No. 1 buyer Spain, an spokesman with Cuba's Habanos SA said Tuesday.

Last year, 62 km. of railways were repaired in the provinces of Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Villa Clara, improving the trains circulation and the security of passengers in central Cuba.

Cuba will expand the procurement of Belarusian tractors in 2013, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to the Republic of Belarus Alfredo Nieves Portuondo told a press conference on 28 December, BelTA has learnt.

Self-employment was joined by another 33 thousand 500 workers from January to October, which marked a growing pace of the non-state modality.

The 2012-2013 sugar harvest kicked off in Cuba after a sugar plant started operations Tuesday in central Matanzas province, authorities in the sector announced.

Cuba is taking part in India’s 32nd International Trade Fair with a stand promoting the island as a tourist destination for vacationers from Southern Asian countries.

Cuba and Russia will expand economic cooperation in the transportation sector, including the purchase of spare parts by Cuba for pubic transportation and the assembly and reconstruction of railway cars.

Commercial exchange between Cuba and Canada increased by 24 percent this year with respect to 2011, said Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Ileana Nuñez at the 30^th International Trade Fair, underway in Havana.