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The dollar was not so far accepted in Cuba, it preferred the CUC, the Cuban peso convertible for tourists. REUTERS / Beawiharta

Since Monday, Cubans are invited to open dollar accounts in the country's banks. Cubans will now be able to buy directly in dollars from certain stores and receive foreign currency transfers from abroad.

With our correspondent in Havana, Domitille Piron

An average of two hours waiting at the bank to open a new currency account in Havana! In a period of increased US government sanctions against Cuba, Havana is seeking through this measure to bring in more foreign currency.

Cubans who receive money from abroad do not hesitate to queue, they have every interest, because next week they can buy in some state stores, but only by card, products that so far were imported by individuals, las mulas , and resold at a high price on the black market.

A new market

Mickael already eyeing the window of one of these shops in Old Havana, on a $ 360 air conditioner, but still find the dollars: " In the street, there are people, individuals, who sell them . And in fact, the dollar has increased, you need 1,020 CUC to buy $ 1,000 , it's crazy because before the dollar was worth less than the CUC ! "

Cubans are looking for currency , by all means, to access this new market. The state thus recovers in its coffers US, Canadian dollars and euros. Adonis queuing at the bank understands it: " I think the CUC is worthless elsewhere in the world, so it seems to me that the state does this to have currencies that have value in the global market and so be able to use dollars. "

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Cuban banks are strengthening their liquidity. And the State wants to recover the import market. In Panama alone, Cubans spend $ 20 million a month. A measure that could well lead to the dollarization of the Cuban economy.