Cuba has formally approved a major restructuring of its executive branch, setting the maximum number of government ministries at 20. Law 186 was promulgated on November 2 and will take effect in seven days, according to the official newspaper Granma.
The measure aims to reorganize, reduce and improve the structure of the central state administration, with the stated goal of increasing efficiency. It merges functions previously divided among separate bodies and independent ministries.
The new structure includes ministries such as Economy and Finance; Agriculture and Food; Foreign Trade and Investment; Culture; and Sport and Recreation. The Central Bank of Cuba will retain its status as a central state administration body led by a minister-president.
Ministers will have 30 calendar days to submit work programs, which must be signed by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero. The law also establishes a transition period of up to one year to implement organizational changes and reallocate human, material and budgetary resources.
The reform is part of the Law on the Organization of the Central State Administration and follows a package of 176 measures approved in June to liberalize and decentralize the economy.
Sources: ANSA Mondo.