• The restructuring will contribute to normalize and develop bilateral economic and financial relations

The vice president of the Council of Ministers of Cuba, Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, and the Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, Luis de Guindos, have presided over the signing in Madrid of the agreements to restructure Cuban debt in the medium and long term with our country. Cuba's debt to Spain amounted to 2,444.05 million euros at the end of October 2015 and was completely unpaid. This was an obstacle to deepening bilateral relations between Spain and Cuba.

Spain wanted to give a solution to this situation and in June 2015, technical conversations were launched to achieve this. The objective was to normalize economic and financial relations with the island and promote the opening and economic development of Cuba. Last November, during a visit by Minister De Guindos to Cuba, a bilateral agreement for the restructuring of short-term debt amounting to 201.5 million euros was signed.

The agreements signed today involve the restructuring of medium and long-term debt and have been negotiated within the multilateral framework of the Paris Club. The Group of Creditors of Cuba (GAC), integrated in the Paris Club, is the forum established for the negotiation of medium and long-term debt integrated in said Club. It has been the forum established for the negotiation of medium and long-term debt. Long term with Cuba. Spain has promoted these negotiations and has played a decisive role in the multilateral solution for the Cuban debt.

On December 12, 2015, an agreement was reached between Cuba and the members of the GAC that established the financial conditions that each debtor must apply to the restructuring and cancellation of the debt.

These conditions are as follows:

  • The repayment of the principal and contractual interests, which in the case of Spain amount to 750 million euros, will be made within 18 years.
  • The cancellation of late payment interest shall be made in proportion to the payment of the agreed reimbursements. In the case of Spain, these interests amount to 1,492.3 million euros.

These conditions are reflected in the Spanish case in two agreements signed today. One of them with the Spanish Export Credit Insurance Company (CESCE) and the other with the Official Credit Institute (ICO), entities that are assigned to manage these debts.

Additionally, the commitment reached within the GAC provided for the option of creditors voluntarily agreeing to an additional remission through the signing of a debt conversion program. In development of this possibility and in response to the request of the Cuban Government, both Governments have agreed to launch a debt conversion program totaling 375 million euros to finance economic and social development projects prioritized by Cuba and interest for both countries.



Source of the new