The Sancti Spíritus branch of the state-run corporation Comercio Interior, Mercado Externo (Cimex) has initiated a bidding process to lease out 12 commercial properties across various municipalities within the province. This announcement, made by the official newspaper Escambray on Sunday, indicates that the bidding period will close on July 23.
The properties available for lease include sales points, cafés, and a warehouse located in Jatibonico, Taguasco, Fomento, Sancti Spíritus, Cabaiguán, and Yaguajay. Eligible participants in this process include state-owned enterprises, self-employed individuals, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The full list of properties comprises PDV El Parque and PDV Jatibonico 2 in Jatibonico; Tienda Cafetería Taguasco in Taguasco; PDV El Central and El Turquino in Fomento; PDV Almiquí, Coppelia, and Guasimal, along with the Central Warehouse in the main municipality; PDV Guayos in Cabaiguán; and PDV Meneses and Mayajigua in Yaguajay.
Interested parties are required to submit their proposals in a sealed envelope to the Cimex Commercial Department, located at Avenida de los Mártires corner Circunvalación, Olivos I.
The necessary documentation comprises a photocopy of the identity card, proof of the applicant's legal status, project name and budget, a description of the planned activities, and if a major renovation is intended, a construction plan endorsed by the property's owning company.
The envelopes will be opened in the presence of a public notary. According to the report, "the specialists overseeing the process will duly inform participants of the venue, date, and time" of the event, "ensuring the transparency of the process."
This leasing mechanism is governed by Resolution 40/2022 from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, which outlines principles of transparency, equality, publicity, and competition for such calls.
This initiative is part of a broader trend by the Cuban government, which has been leasing out state-owned businesses since 2022, beginning with 300 dining establishments. Since then, the domestic trade sector has leased out cafés, butcher shops, and bars across various regions. In August 2025, the government handed over state bars in Holguín under the same scheme.
Earlier this year, Tiendas Caribe leased another property in Havana, and this month, Varadero's international airport leased infrastructure due to operational paralysis caused by the aviation fuel crisis.
Critics argue that these initiatives do not reflect a genuine development policy but rather highlight the state's inability to sustain its own commercial network.
As a result, the accumulated deterioration from decades of inefficient state management is being passed onto private entrepreneurs, who face unstable legal protections and the looming threat of contract revocation at any time.
FAQs on Cimex Leasing in Sancti Spíritus
Who can participate in the leasing process?
State-owned enterprises, self-employed individuals, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) can participate in the leasing process.
What documentation is required for the proposal submission?
Participants must provide a photocopy of their identity card, proof of legal status, project name and budget, a description of planned activities, and if applicable, a construction plan approved by the property owner.
What governance rules apply to this leasing process?
The process is governed by Resolution 40/2022 from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, which demands transparency, equality, publicity, and competition.