WKSU News: Northeast Ohio business leaders and lawmakers set to visit Cuba

Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Northeast Ohio business leaders and lawmakers set to visit Cuba The purpose of the trip is to explore the possibility of establishing trade relations with the country Story by STATEHOUSE NEWS BUREAU

O'Brien hopes to exchange ideas with Cuban leaders on topics such as education.

Courtesy of The Ohio House of Representatives

Ohio businesses and two Democratic lawmakers will travel to Cuba next week to explore forming trade relations with the country.

Congressman Tim Ryan of Niles will join state representative Sean O’Brien of Hubbard and 13 Northeast Ohio business leaders to visit the newly formed U.S. embassy and meet with trade leaders there.

O’Brien says the trip will also offer Ohio an opportunity to study Cuba’s public services in the areas of healthcare and education.

LISTEN: O'Brien on exchanging ideas with Cuba

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“Their education is one of the best in Latin America, I think their reading level is in the almost in the high 90's," said O'Brien. "I mean, there are things we can learn from what they’re doing in Cuba that we may be able to bring back.”

Ohio businesses visiting Cuba operate in the areas of manufacturing, medicine, and restaurant franchising.

U.S. relations with Cuba have been thawing since President Obama announced an effort to re-establish relations with the country last December.