Regime change in Cuba won't be boost for Illinois

I remember this many years ago though at the time I didn't understand what this meant. Though I'm glad the Daily Herald is able to refresh my memory. If you don't remember then Gov. and not yet felon George Ryan went to Cuba on business...

In the fall of 1999, a newly-elected Gov. George Ryan lead a delegation to Cuba intending to lay the groundwork for Illinois firms should a regime change end the U.S. embargo.

Executives from Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc., Moline-based Deere & Co., Decatur-based Archer Daniels Midland Co. and Deerfield-based Baxter International Inc. flew down on a United Airlines flight to Havana to meet with Fidel Castro.

Yet as Castro, 81, announced Tuesday he would not accept another term in office when parliament elects a new president this weekend, the intervening years and the pending regime change hold little immediate prospect for Illinois businesses.

"That was really more of a Ryan story than it was an economic story," said John Pelissero, vice provost and a political science professor at Loyola University in Chicago. "The issue was to be ready when there is regime change. But I don't think anything really changed for Illinois."

The U.S. economic embargo of Cuba is going on 48 years, after Castro seized power in a revolution that resulted in the nationalization of both individual and U.S. properties.

Reacting to the news Castro's brother, Raul Castro, may be taking over the presidency on Sunday, the Bush administration said it doesn't intend to lift the embargo anytime soon.

Due to the lack of a U.S. presence, other countries have invested in the country.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez barters oil for doctors and teachers. Spanish hotels, French power companies, Italian car dealerships and Canadian cell phone companies are present, but U.S. firms are barred from even having subsidiaries working in Cuba.

Economists say Cuba is a potential market for corn and soybean producing states such as Illinois.

Cuba also needs development of its tourism, electronics, telecommunications, high tech, heavy machinery and health-care sectors.

Found in todays CapFax morning shorts. Oh and I talked briefly about Castro's resignation here.