Havana , Cuba ( CNN ) -- Cuban President Raul Castro told legislators Saturday that the country 's economy would undergo significant change in the coming year , but added that the measures aimed to bolster socialism -- not make Cuba a capitalist nation . Castro has begun a radical shakeup of the Soviet-style economic model , previously announcing the elimination of one million state jobs and the expansion of private businesses . Cuba 's National Assembly tapped him as the Caribbean nation 's president in 2008 , ending nearly five decades of rule by his older brother Fidel Castro . As part of the plan , Cubans are being allowed and even encouraged to go into business for themselves , working as barbers , plumbers and even birthday clowns as the government tries to boost productivity . `` The measures we are applying , and all of the changes that are necessary for the modernization of the economic model , are aimed at preserving socialism , strengthening it and making it truly irreversible , '' said Castro , according to a copy of his speech published by the state-run website Cubadebate . Castro has called for debates across the country before April , when the Communist Party holds its first congress in almost 14 years at which they could approve his plan . In the speech , he insisted there should no longer be a stigma attached to working in the private sector . `` Many Cubans confuse socialism with handouts and subsidies , equality with egalitarianism , '' said the president , who spoke at the close of the country 's National Assembly in Havana , according to Cubadebate . The government expects the Cuban economy to grow 3.1 percent next year , up from a projected 2.1 percent growth in 2010 . `` We can assure you that , this time , there will be no going back . '' said Castro .
The president says the aim is to make socialism `` irreversible '' `` There will be no going back , '' Castro says . Cuban officials expect its economy to grow 3.1 percent in 2011 .