Havana  - Cuban President Raul Castro postponed a congress of his Communist Party, which was planned for the end of the year, indefinitely, saying the government had to focus on the economy, state media said Friday.

The government also lowered its 2009 growth projections from 2.5 per cent to 1.7 per cent. Cuba's economy was in a very serious crisis, the president said.

Raul Castro is expected to raise the issue at Saturday's parliamentary session, which analysts believe will focus on the economy.

The island was hit hard by the global downturn, facing a sharp decline in earnings from nickel production and tourism, while at the same time the costs for oil and food imports have risen drastically.

In his speech on the occasion of Cuba's national day on July 26, Castro already warned his countrymen that they had to prepare for harsher times ahead.

This year's party congress was deemed important to chart Cuba's political future for the time after Raul, 78, and his brother and former president Fidel, 82.

The last congress took place in 1997. According to the constitution, it should take place every four years. (dpa)