Overview
- The government issued a decree that took effect after state media published details on Wednesday, removing 46 prohibitions and relaxing 35 regulations to let private companies run pharmacies, petrol stations, electricity projects, waste services and import electric vehicles.
- Officials say the measures respond to an acute fuel shortfall tied to U.S. control of Venezuelan energy assets that has produced months of rolling blackouts, water cuts and empty pharmacy shelves.
- The reforms explicitly legalize private import and resale of some medicines and aim to regularize trade that had operated informally on apps and messaging groups.
- Rules easing foreign and private participation in oil and mining were included to attract investment, though leaders stressed the state will keep control of education, telecommunications, media, defense and tobacco production.
- Implementation will be gradual and closely managed by Cuban authorities, who report early steps such as permissions for wholesale fuel distributors and say results will take time to reach citizens coping with daily shortages.