ProLimp Cleaning In Cuba Precisely Type Of Entrepreneurship Biden Administration Should Support. Will Cuba Permit U.S. Venture Capitalists?

Xinhua News Agency
Beijing, China
28 February 2021

by Yosley Carrero

HAVANA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- Jorge Montano, 30, is the leader of ProLimp, a Havana-based cleaning firm adjusting and updating its services swiftly to tap its resilience to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

While hundreds of private businesses in Cuba have closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for cleaning services has increased since the health emergency began in March here last year.

Montano, who lives in Havana's San Miguel district on the periphery of the country's capital, learned part of what he knows about cleaning services at a car wash, where he first started to work nearly a decade ago.

He now seeks to provide clients with disinfection services for outdoor and indoor spaces as Cuba faces a surge in cases following the reopening of international airports and Christmas break. "Cleaning of surfaces has never been so important," he said. "The more people take care of hygiene, the better protected from the virus they will feel."

Founded in 2014, Prolimp provides clients with services ranging from cleaning of buildings and swimming pools to disinfection of carpets, furniture and vehicle interiors. Along with 10 workmates in their twenties, Montano has stepped up safety measures to reduce the risk of contracting the virus while removing germs, dirt and dust from different surfaces.

Yadier Iglesias, who joined the project during the pandemic, said that cleaning commercial and public service establishments is fundamental to keeping the pandemic at bay. "Before beginning to wash the different surfaces, we remove solids and all organic materials," said the 20-year-old. "This is a very time-consuming process, but we want to wash the virus away."

Meanwhile, Cuba on Sunday reported 618 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and another four deaths, pushing the national caseload to 49,779 and death toll to 322. Local authorities in Havana have urged people to stay at home as much as possible to reduce social interaction. State and private sector employees have been told to reinforce cleaning and disinfectant procedures against the virus at workplaces.

At present, the young Cuban entrepreneurs are examining emergent tendencies reshaping the cleaning industry worldwide while exploring new business opportunities to move ProLimp forward. Over the past few days, they have been disinfecting different areas at Atrevete Restaurant, one of the local eateries offering home delivery and takeaway services due to the pandemic.

Daniela Ruiz, a waitress at the eatery, told Xinhua that regular cleaning is required at home and public places to keep people safe from the contagious disease. "No one wants to test positive for COVID-19," said the 20-year-old. "So, cleaning startups are more than welcome here, not only to protect people from the novel coronavirus but from other diseases as well."