In an effort to strengthen international business ties last year, state lawmakers approved the creation of a new trade commission between Connecticut and Ireland.
This year, legislators are eyeing stronger business ties with a Caribbean island.
A bill has been submitted in the Commerce Committee to establish a Connecticut-Puerto Rico Trade Commission. The legislation was introduced by three House Democrats: Reps. Christopher Rosario, Juan R. Candelaria and Geraldo C. Reyes.
The proposal has not yet been fully fleshed out, but an early version of it says the trade commission would advance bilateral trade and investment between Connecticut and Puerto Rico, initiate joint action on policy issues of mutual interest to the state and Puerto Rico and promote business and academic exchanges.
It would also encourage mutual economic support between the two, according to the bill.
Connecticut has a large Puerto Rican population. In fact, Puerto Ricans are the largest Hispanic group in Connecticut, with close to 300,000 residents in the state, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
