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Havana– <\/span>Cubans accustomed to shopping with bags full of bills amid skyrocketing inflation will get some relief Wednesday when two new high-denomination banknotes enter circulation. <\/p>\n Cuba’s central bank was set to issue 2,000 and 5,000 Cuban peso notes, which are equivalent to about $4 and $10, after they were previewed on the government website CubaDebate on Tuesday.<\/p>\n This would be the first time that women would be included on the island’s paper currency. The 2,000 Cuban peso note in purple and pink tones will feature the portrait of Mariana Grajales, patriot of Cuban independence and mother of many of its heroes. The blue 5,000 peso note will feature Celia Sanchez, a guerrilla fighter who became a close ally of the former president. Fidel Castro<\/a>.<\/p>\n The new notes will “facilitate cash transactions, meeting the real needs of an economy demanding large amounts of cash… reducing the cost of cash logistics and improving operational efficiency during the current period of inflation,” CubeDebit said.<\/p>\n Until now the highest value has been the 1,000 peso note, but rising inflation since 2001 means that many people are forced to carry bills that do not fit in their wallets.<\/p>\n Authorities have promoted bank deposits and transfers, but many residents still prefer cash.<\/p>\n According to official data, annual inflation last year closed at 14%. Price increases over the past five years \u2013 peaking at 77% in 2021 \u2013 coupled with a severe decline in GDP have had a significant impact on daily life.<\/p>\n