The Holguín branch of Cimex Corporation S.A. has announced a bidding process, inviting private economic actors to take over the management of 13 commercial units. Among these are the iconic Bim Bom Ice Cream Factory and Doña Nelly Bakery-Confectionery, both well-known establishments in the provincial capital.
These two venues will operate under a cooperative production model, while another 11 units are up for lease through a secondary bidding process. This includes the Moa Portioning Center, El Radar Storehouse, and the sales points Nicaragua and El Moderno in Banes, along with various other commercial and service establishments in Moa and surrounding areas.
Interested parties have seven business days from the announcement's publication to submit their sealed proposals at the CIMEX Holguín Command Post, located at 6th Street, number 10, between 9th and 10th, in Ciudad Jardín. Submissions are accepted from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Submissions must include the applicant's personal details, the project name and budget, a description of planned activities, and any interest in incorporating advertising or artistic services. If a major renovation is proposed, a construction project endorsed by the property's owning company must also be submitted.
This initiative does not imply the privatization of the establishments. The properties will remain state-owned, with non-state actors managing or administering the businesses under the terms set by each bid.
This move aligns with a broader trend seen across Cuba, where state spaces are increasingly opened to non-state management forms. The "On Bids" Decree-Law, approved by the Council of State on August 20, establishes this mechanism as the general approach for transferring the management of state spaces to non-state actors.
In August 2025, the Municipal Company of Commerce and Gastronomy in Rafael Freyre, Holguín, auctioned off four state-owned bars. A year later, the Marriage Palace and Emilio Bárcenas Hair Salon in the City of Parks underwent a similar transition, sparking skepticism among Holguín residents.
This pattern is echoed nationally. In July, Cimex initiated a bidding process for 12 establishments in Sancti Spíritus, followed by the Palmares chain in September with a dozen cafés in Havana and Tiendas Caribe with 17 locations in Santiago de Cuba.
A common criticism is that the state shifts the burden of decades of failed governmental management onto entrepreneurs without providing stable legal guarantees.
Understanding the Impact of Cimex's Bid Process in Holguín
What is Cimex's role in Holguín's new management initiative?
Cimex is inviting private economic actors to manage 13 commercial units in Holguín, a move that includes leasing and cooperative production models for iconic establishments.
How does the new bidding process affect state-owned properties?
The properties remain state-owned, though non-state actors are invited to manage or administer them under specific terms established by each bid.
What criticism has this initiative faced?
Critics argue that the state is offloading the cost of long-term mismanagement onto entrepreneurs without providing stable legal assurances.