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Expert: Conditions in Cuba appear better than ever for change

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 29, 2009

TAMPA - Despite widespread attention given the Obama Administration's initiatives in opening trade and travel discussions with Cuba, substantial change will depend on Congressional action, an expert on Cuban business affairs at Tulane University told a gathering of more than 125 Tampa Bay business people Friday.

But despite the failure to improve U.S. relations with Cuba in recent decades, current conditions appear better than ever for change, a co-panelist from the University of Florida told a group assembled for a World Trade Center World Affairs Council program.

"Clearly change is coming, but don't count on it next week," said Terry McCoy director of UF's Latin American Business Environment program.

McCoy, Tulane post-doctoral research fellow Paolo Spadoni and Port of Tampa Director Richard Wainio stressed challenges in creating new business with Cuba, which is suffering from myriad economic problems, but left plenty open for future discussion on what steps local business could or should take before Cuba trade is normalized.

Wainio said Cuba could parallel Panama in becoming a location to handle "trans-shipments" with huge container cargo ships serving the Far East through the expanded Panama Canal by 2015 transferring containers to smaller ships that would serve Tampa.

That would mean more container shipments through the port, rather than by rail and truck from California ports to central Florda.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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