Yulexis Querol is from Matanzas, we have known each other since pre-university years at the IPVCE Carlos Marx. I could say that later we “disengaged” when I enrolled in Journalism at the University of Havana and he stayed studying Mechanical Engineering at the Casa de Altos Estudios in our native land. However, the bond that is created in the Vocational is practically unbreakable, and half a life later, here we are, a journalist and businessman, talking about his most recent professional commitment: the Mipyme Enernova.
– What is this initiative about?
—Well, the Mipyme is called Enernova SRL and, basically, we will dedicate ourselves to the recycling of non-ferrous materials and organic waste; the production of organic compost and biogas; produce and market materials from recycled waste, and the production of furniture and infrastructure with recycled materials.
“It is made up of five partners, and we must have a total of 90 employees, so we enter the category of medium-sized companies.”
– Why bet on a business in Cuba at a time when some say that the only option for youth is to leave the country?
—For a simple reason: here I was born, here I live, here I became the professional that I am today, and it is here that this knowledge must be used in terms of the development of the country and the well-being of my family.
– What motivated you towards this specific activity?
—The main motivation has been to see how a considerable volume of recoverable materials ends up in the trash without proper management. Hence, our corporate purpose is aimed at the recovery of non-ferrous materials contained in urban solid waste, recycling organic waste and end-of-life tires.
“We are also motivated by being able to turn these materials into new products and give new life to what we dispose of today without taking into account the high potential of raw materials it contains.”
—How much do you think this MSME can contribute to the community and to society in general?
—The main contribution of our company will be the promotion of the culture of recycling in the population. Together with this, we will seek to improve the urban waste collection processes, which will allow increasing the availability of raw materials for other industrial processes and, in turn, reducing the volume of waste deposited in landfills. We also seek to create jobs, especially for young people and women, and encourage innovation in recycling.
– Do they already have any concrete experience or results that you can tell me?
—We still do not have any results, as we are immersed in the constitution process, but we have already been working on the realization of two projects: one that we are going to carry out with the University of Matanzas and another in the municipality of Calimete. Likewise, we are preparing a public welfare campaign that we will call “Zero waste”, with which we intend to bring the culture of recycling to the entire population.
—Since the experiences that the process of setting up this company left you, what would you advise or what would be your message for other entrepreneurs who are considering the possibility of creating their own?
—My advice would be that if you have an entrepreneurial idea, whatever it is, feel free to develop and present it. I think this is a magnificent opportunity to contribute to the development of the country and show all the potential and talent that Cubans have.
“Our experience has been positive, because the process has flowed very well and at all times we have had excellent treatment from the people who have had to assist us at every step”.
—You, who have lived the process from the inside, what expectations do you have about the impact that MSMEs can have on the local economies and in the country?
“Expectations are high.” The emergence of MSMEs will undoubtedly enrich the economic ecosystem of the territories and the country, increase production chains and reinforce the country’s development strategy until 2030.
