Cuba Says Exports of Goods, Services $9B in 2011 Cuban exports of goods and services generated $9 billion in income in 2011, a 20 percent increase over the previous year, a high-ranking government official said Tuesday. Antonio Luis Carricarte Corona, first vice minister of foreign commerce, said Cuba is diversifying its exports and relying less on established sectors such as nickel and sugar. As an example, he singled out medicine sales, which made up 15 percent of exports last year and where the government envisions continued growth. He did not give the exact figure for 2010 but said the 2011 numbers were 20 percent higher, which would put the previous year at about $7.7 billion. Cuba uses nonstandard accounting methods that take into account things like the value of the brigades of doctors, technicians and advisers it sends to countries such as Venezuela in a barter exchange in return for oil and other goods. Outside estimates offer different numbers. The CIA World Factbook put Cuban exports at $4.7 billion last year, for example. Carricarte also noted efforts to promote Cuba as a destination for medical tourism. "The prospects could be very big," he said. Carricarte said nickel made up 30 percent of exports last year. Sugar, which at one time accounted for 70 percent, is today just about 9 percent. Carricarte said that services such as tourism, health care and computing currently make up more than 70 percent of revenue.