Havana, Cuba.- The development of packaging production in Cuba shows significant progress over the past five years, Juana Herrera, the main specialist in this area at the Ministry of Industry, told Prensa Latina today.

In statements made during the Third Congress on Containers and Packaging, Havanapak 2018, held in the capital’s Convention Palace, pointed out progress has been made in all areas of work included in development policy in this industrial area.

As one of the strengths achieved from 2013 to 2018, the official identified the creation of the National Center for Packaging which guarantees the modernization and expansion of laboratory equipment and the incorporation of qualified personnel.

Likewise, Herrera added, to the achievements obtained today, the design of the Technical Regulations for Packaging and Containers, established by Resolution 94 of 2017 of the Minister of Industries and a legal instrument which allows the implementation of the designed policy to materialize, contributed to the achievements.

This regulatory context, she added, involves all the producer and marketing organizations engaged in this area of manufacturing.

In 2013, the national industry was able to cover 36 percent of the demand and, after five years, indicators were achieved that, although limited, show progress in the production of packaging in Cuba, Herrera stressed.

Investments of 42 million pesos were made for this industry in 2017 and, in the previous five years, approximately 136 million pesos were invested in the modernization of this industry.

According to Herrera, this contributed to satisfy 62 percent of the demand with the national production.

According to the specialist, even though there are still unsatisfactions regarding the packaging of food and medicines, the levels of imports of some products decreased by almost 40 percent in the case of the production of the containers that benefited from investments.

The demand for packaging for 2018 amounts to 721 million pesos and increases in relation to the estimated for 2017 by 120 million pesos.

It is also estimated 112 million glass containers will be reused this year, 61 million more than in 2013, which would mean an increase of more than 50 percent over the last five years in the reuse of these containers.

Herrera remarked, however, that in order to guarantee the satisfaction of all demand in the coming years, in addition to strengthening the recycling policy, priority must be given to state and foreign investment in the manufacture of flexible packaging, glass and aluminum.

Havanapack 2018 is part of the program of the International Convention Cubaindustria which began on Monday and will end on Friday 22 at the Havana Convention Center.