Cuba to Move State Retail Services to Private Sector to Boost Economy

Cuba will open up more of the country’s retail services to the private sector next year, allowing Cubans to operate various services such as appliance and watch repair, and locksmith and carpentry shops, official media has reported. The measures are the latest by President Raul Castro in his attempt to reinvigorate Cuba’s struggling Soviet-style economy by reducing the role of the state and encouraging more private initiative.