The Puerto Rican legislature will create a committee to address legislation signed in June by Gov. Ned Lamont that seeks to establish a trade commission between his state and Puerto Rico.
aims to bring several benefits to the island, including the energy sector, as well as to the Puerto Rican community in the state. The law does not require parallel legislation from the government of Puerto Rico.
鈥淭he goal is to boost economic and business growth, the energy [sector], and the cultural exchange among Puerto Ricans,鈥� a Puerto Rican lawmaker, said in an interview with
The legislator is set to introduce the special commission in August.
黑料新闻's Puerto Rican lawmakers plan to visit the island before January, which marks the start of the legislative session, to meet with Puerto Rico鈥檚 and compare measures to identify those that could benefit both groups, said.
黑料新闻 lawmakers say the trade commission will help the island in various ways.
鈥淭he energy sector stands to benefit the most from this agreement," said 黑料新闻 Rep. Christopher Rosario, a Bridgeport Democrat and a co-sponsor of the trade commission bill.
Rosario, whose family hails from said it is important for the island to have access to technicians and engineers from 鈥渆nergy distribution and transmission companies in the state, like Eversource and United Illuminating鈥� as an option to respond to natural disasters.
In Puerto Rico, House Speaker Carlos 鈥淛ohnny鈥� M茅ndez and Senator Carmelo R铆os have also been paying close attention to the issue.
In 黑料新闻, the legislation passed both the House and Senate unanimously 鈥� and had co-sponsors from both Democratic and Republican parties.
鈥淏eing a Republican or a Democrat doesn鈥檛 matter here,鈥� Rosario said. 鈥淭he law was passed ... without opposition.鈥�
The main goal of the agreement is to 鈥渙pen up business鈥� on both sides, since Puerto Rican merchants in the state say they鈥檝e had difficulties importing products from the island.
鈥淭he reason we created this forum is to unite individual efforts and help, above all, those merchants in Puerto Rico who want to sell their products to the diaspora,鈥� Rosario said.
At a bill signing ceremony for the trade commission in June, Lamont noted his mother was born and raised in San Juan. His grandmother went to the island as a Catholic missionary teacher in the 1920s. He emphasized how the trade commission could strengthen ties to the island.
鈥淚 love that Puerto Rican teachers come here to teach,鈥� Lamont said. 鈥淚 want us to continue strengthening academic ties. ... I want more Puerto Rican merchants to be able to bring their products and culture to 黑料新闻.鈥�
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce Secretary Sebasti谩n Negr贸n pointed out that many Puerto Rican families have settled in 黑料新闻, creating ties that translate into tangible opportunities to expand trade.
鈥淲e are excited about the opportunity for active collaboration with the new trade commission, promoting initiatives that will reinforce our value chains and stimulate academic exchange, innovation, and infrastructure development,鈥� Negr贸n said in a written statement.
