HAVANA, Cuba.- The President of the Councils of State and Ministers, Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, emphasized the essential role of science in the present and future development of national industry, during the check-up meetings of the packaging programs, and of industrial development of the country.

The Head of State reiterated the permanent link of industries with universities and research centers, as part of the strategy of modernization of Cuban industry in the face of technological obsolescence and other delays.

Diaz-Canel also called on young engineers and graduates of different specialties, including industrial design, to complete master and doctoral degrees.

During the meeting, they analyzed the compliance with the President’s instructions in previous checks of packaging and industrial development programs. Commander of the Revolution Ramiro Valdes Menendez, and Minister of Industry Alfredo Lopez and of Food Iris Quinones participated.

An issue evaluated in the context of the Packaging and Packaging Policy, approved in 2013, was the comprehensive proposal to enhance   the National Packaging  Center, founded in 1970 on the proposal of Cuban heroine and engineer Vilma Espin Guilloys. Modernization seeks to enhance the scientific center and end its technological deterioration.

The investment program to replace gradually packaging that insures exportable lines was another point. A diagnosis identifying 480 exportable lines found that these require 2,782 types of packaging, including 1,642 made in Cuba and 1,140 imported.

Over the past five years in the production industry of these assortments, investments of more than 170 million pesos were made, fundamentally in paper, plastic and wood industries, with the installation of new equipment.

From now until 2025, the plan is to carry out investments of about 280 million pesos to support the assurance of 19 generic packaging products that are currently imported to meet the demand for exportable lines.

At the same time, there are some investment projects subject to feasibility assessment for production, as those of bulbs, blisters, PET bottles for pharmaceutical use, and other plastic and metallic items.

The review of the Packaging Program reported the ostensible growth in reuse of glass, plastic and metal packaging by industries.

Diaz-Canel praised initiatives regarding training activities through workshops and courses, and exchanges of foreign experts with students from the Technological University and the Industrial Design Institute on international trends in packaging. It is a good experience to bring international experts to our universities, he said.