DR. C. YAILENIS MULET CONCEPCION
NOVEMBER 7, 2013 Original essay here: Non-Agricultural Coops; WWW.FROMTHEISLAND.ORG
CONCLUSION
The first non-agricultural cooperatives started operating just a few months ago, so it is premature to derive conclusions on their progress.
However, it should be stressed that obstacles that have prevented the functioning of the state sector until now must be taken into account if these models are to increase production and untie the knots holding back productive forces. Thus, the capacity needed for the import and export—or for the production of—goods should be analyzed in view of the lack of a wholesale market of inputs.
The capacity to purchase means of transportation or production equipment to increase labor productivity should also be analyzed, including alliances with foreign capital that are so essential to bridging Cuba’s development gap.
A challenge for economic authorities is to make the cooperative sector function through the transformation of state enterprises and not by the will of a group of people. Furthermore, the new urban cooperatives should promote solidarity and social responsibility. One important thing: important synergies between cooperatives and the rest of the existing means of production in the country must emerge, not the same stagnant behaviors of the past.
Access to supplies via wholesale trade is insufficient. The State must continue to work on improving the supply of basic resources needed by these cooperatives to operate. Thus, the capacity needed for the import and export—or for the production of—goods should be analyzed in view of the lack of a wholesale market of inputs.
