The Center of Studies of the Cuban Economy (CSCE), associated to Havana University, foresees three different scenarios for the GDP increase in 1997, with rates of 5, 6 and 7 percent, related to an increase of imports of 12, 15 and 17, as well as sugar production outputs of 4.7, 4.7-5, and more than 5 million tons respectively. In an annual seminar held in January experts presented their recommendations and figures to the Government. The economists considered the following aspects as main objectives of Cuban economic policy for this year: _ to increase the supply of goods and services, _ to improve the relation between wages and prices, and _ to boost employment The conditions to achieve these growth rates are: no further deterioration of the international exchange rates, the international price for sugar must remain at around 12 cents the pound, and the production of cigars must attain 100 million cigars and that of nickel, 64 000 tons. Citric exports should also grow by 20%, the sales of marine products must reach the amount of 20 million dollars and the exports of iron and steel as well as electronic industries must increase 50% compared with 1996. Experts consider that irrespective of the tensions contained in the financial plan, conditions are better this year than last year to achieve these ambitious objectives. Juan Triana, Director of the CSCE, stressed that economic reforms must keep going, with new legislation, the creation of a National Treasury, the complete implementation of the bank reform, the creation of investment funds and the selling of public bonds, among other measures. This policy, he added, is based on a wide social consensus and the strong political leadership of president Fidel Castro, aspects that permitted the continuous growth shown so far, the increase of exports and the decrease of the fiscal deficit without deterioration of basic social indicators. However, the experts also warned of the problems the Cuban economy is facing and mentioned specifically the pattern of power consumption whose growth rate is currently greater than that of the GDP, the existing problem with the national payments system, and size distortions in the industrial sector. They also said it is necessary for Cuba to keep on working on the huge imbalances in the economy and on both the foreign trade and budget deficits. Shawgi Tell University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education [EMAIL PROTECTED]