Mr Fernando Acosta Santana minister of iron & steel industry of Cuba said that "By the end of 2008, exports of the Cuban iron and steel industry have increased by 20% YoY as compared to last year."

Mr Santana noted that the main commercial contracts are linked to Latin American and Caribbean countries that belong to the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas regional integration and cooperation bloc.

He added that 2008 was characterized by the strengthening of international relations, cooperation plans, exchange of specialists and the design of new joint projects. He said that "Preliminary reports show a 12% to 15% increase of sales and productions."

He stressed that the 52 companies of the ministry affected by the three hurricanes that hit Cuba in recent months are now completely recovered and some of them are in better conditions than before the impact of the hurricanes.

(Sourced from www.cubanews.ain.cu)