Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo became the first U.S. governor to visit Cuba in 50 years.

As the U.S. federal government continues its diplomatic relations talks with Cuban government officials, Cuomo said he wants New York State and its businesses to be among the first to build trade and marketing partnerships with the island nation.

"As the door begins to open between the U.S. and Cuba, we want New York businesses to be first out of the gate when it comes to building trade partnerships and establishing a strong position in this new market," Cuomo said.

"That is what this trade mission and our larger Global NY initiative are all about -- promoting opportunities for New York businesses to grow and compete on the international stage. The new New York is committed to being open for business, and this trade mission is another example that we are no longer waiting for opportunity to come knocking -- we're going door-to-door ourselves."

Cuomo added there are policy disagreements with Cuba, such as the topic of human rights. He reiterated his support of the Obama administration's new policy towards Cuba, stating engagement is the best method to promote democracy instead of a failed policy of isolation.

The New York governor is scheduled to have a working lunch with Cuba's Trade and Foreign Investments Minister Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, which will be closed to the press. His schedule includes meetings with First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Cardinal Jaime Lucas Ortega y Alamino.

Cuomo is accompanied by a delegation comprising of New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo became the first U.S. governor to visit Cuba in 50 years. Cuomo and a delegation comprising of New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Independent Democratic Conference Leader Jeff Klein and businessmen from the state.

"I am excited to be joining Governor Cuomo and the entire New York delegation in this historic trade mission to Cuba," Heastie said in statement.

"For New York State's businesses in the banking, financial, agricultural, and technology sectors this is a unique opportunity to gain access to an emerging market. The trade mission has the potential to not only create new opportunities for the people of our state, but also to benefit the Cuban people by encouraging and supporting reforms. There are so many opportunities to explore and I am proud to represent the New York State Assembly as we engage in this important dialogue."

According to Cuomo's office, businesses represented during the governor's trip include Chobani, JetBlue, MasterCard, Pfizer, Plattsburgh International Airport and the State University of New York (SUNY) system.

The governor's trip comes more than a week after President Barack Obama met with Cuba President Raul Castro during the annual Summit of the Americas in Panama.

"I told President Castro in private what I've have said in public -- that our governments will continue to have differences and the United States will continue to stand firmly for universal values and human rights," Obama said during a press conference after meeting Castro.

"Our countries have a long and complicated history, but we are willing to make progress in the way the president has described," Castro said after meeting Obama. "We can develop friendship between our two peoples. We shall continue advancing the meetings that are taking place in order to reestablish relations between our two countries. We shall open our embassies. We shall visit each other, have exchanges ... and all those matters that close neighbors can do."

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