Cuban minister predicts strong growth

Cuban minister predicts strong growth Cuba's economic minister said his country should reach a 10 percent increase in its gross domestic product in 2007, meeting projections made in February and marking the third consecutive year of double-digit growth.
   Economy Minister Jos' Luis Rodr'guez told a meeting of economists in Havana that the growth levels would be sustained, according to the state's National Information Agency. The meting was not open to international news media.
   The minister did not give specifics on what is driving the continued growth. The country's copper, nickel and cobalt mines have benefited from strong prices, but tourism has dropped because of the sale of the Spanish cruise line to U.S.-based Royal Caribbean, which cannot call Cuba.