Gil, who is also the minister of Economy and Planning, will address the issues that are of most interest or concern for the public in this regard.

Not exempt from manipulation by detractors of the Cuban Revolution, the MLC shops were created in 2019 as a way to alleviate to some extent the lack of foreign currencies in this country, exacerbated by the United States blockade.

That economic war, condemned by the international community, was reinforced with some 243 measures taken by the administration of former President Donald Trump, and have been maintained by Democratic President Joe Biden, despite his campaign promises to review the US policy on Cuba.

The country’s economic situation has worsened subsequently with the crisis unleashed worldwide by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In recent statements to the Cuban News Agency, Gil pointed out that the purpose of the MLC shops was to prevent individuals from taking foreign currencies out of the country, to collect them and use them for the development of the national industry and to maintain a stable level of offers in Cuban pesos.

He recalled that had those stores not existed, Cuba’s economic situation would be more complex, and exemplified that in 2021, more than 300 million dollars were used to supply goods to the network of commerce in national currency from sales in MLC.

Gil pointed out that the MLC shops have a transitory nature and that their existence will depend on the recovery of Cuba’s economy and on whether the Cuban peso can be provided with a real purchasing capacity.

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