N.Y. Gov. Cuomo to visit Cuba under new U.S. policy

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www.salon.com

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. Andrew Cuomo is making good on a pledge to visit Cuba: He announced Thursday he's headed there April 20.

Chief of the Cuban Interests Section José Ramón Cabañas and Cuomo said the Democratic governor will lead the first official state trade mission to Cuba since President Obama began last month to normalize diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon said he's headed to Cuba next month.

Cuomo's argument for going to Cuba is that New York in particular would benefit from improved relations. The trip will include state officials and business leaders, he said.

"As the gateway to America, New York state has always been a great symbol to the Cuban people," Cabañas said in a statement.

"It has welcomed Cubans over the years as they came to visit and live in the United States, including the great José Martí. We are greatly excited that Governor Cuomo has agreed to be the first governor to lead an official state trade mission to our beautiful island."

Cuomo said the trip—which is expected to the first in a series of global trade missions by the governor in his second term, called "Global NY"—will help the state's economy.

"Creating an environment that supports growth and economic development is one of our administration's top priorities, and Global NY is the perfect example of how we're taking that approach to the international stage," Cuomo said in a statement.

The state has offices in New York, Canada, China, Israel, Mexico, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The state is spending $35 million a year on the program, which has a website aimed at attracting new investments in New York.