O'Brien, Ryan on a first-of-its-kind trade trip to Cuba

October 8, 2015 at 12:00a.m.

COLUMBUS

A state lawmaker and a congressman will join more than a dozen representatives from Northeast Ohio businesses next week for a first-of-its-kind trade trip to Cuba.

Rep. Sean O’Brien of Bazetta, D-64th, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, are scheduled to spend four days in the country, which has been subject to a decades-long national embargo.

Over the past year, President Barack Obama began reducing some travel restrictions to Cuba, and the lawmakers and others are working to make connections between the country and Ohio in advance of full-scale tourism and trade activities, should the federal government continue to move in that direction.

“I think people are curious about Cuba,” O’Brien said during an afternoon press conference announcing the trade mission at the Statehouse on Tuesday. “We haven’t been there for 55 years.”

Luis Alcalde, a native of Cuba and a Columbus attorney involved in developing such trade relationships, said a group of 18 Ohioans will visit the new U.S. embassy in Cuba and have meetings with companies. O’Brien and Ryan also plan side meetings to learn about Cuba’s efforts to reduce infant-mortality rates.

“It’s exciting when you think about all the potential that can occur because of the infrastructure, the technology, the needs that the Cuban people and government need that we can supply here in Ohio,” O’Brien said. “And if we can get ahead of the curve and adapt and get our businesses and our knowledge into Cuba ahead of the curve, I think it will really put Ohio in a position to be one of the leading states to have good relationships with Cuba.”

O’Brien and others ultimately are hoping the federal government allows tourism and other U.S. investment in Cuba. Other countries already are investing there.

“Economic development is occurring, it’s just U.S. companies are being left out because of our own embargo,” O’Brien said. “We believe once the door is open, it will gradually widen and widen, and more and more companies will be there. We believe this will be good for our country, and I think it’s going to be good for Ohio.”