Research group says Cuban-American remittances could double

There is a prediction that remittance flows to Cuba from the United States could double with the recent liberalisation of US policy on money transfers to the island.



Manuel Orozco of the non-profit research group, Inter-American Dialogue says the the annual flow of remittances from the US to Cuba is estimated at $1.2 billion.



However he says this figure could rise to $2.4 billion.



His forecast follows last week\'s lifting of limits on Cuban-Americans sending money to Cuba.



Mr Orozco told the Business News Americas agency that the size of the predicted increase in remittances can be measured by comparing immigrant populations from similar destinations, such as the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Guyana.



He says immigrants from these countries typically send between US$150 and 200 per month.