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New York Governor plans first trade mission to Cuba

Xinhua, January 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is planning a trade mission to Cuba, the Governor's Office confirmed Saturday. Details of the trip have yet to be announced.

Cuomo, who will be among the first high-profile U.S. officials to visit Cuba since the Obama administration announced in December historic moves to normalize full relations with the Caribbean island.

The Democratic governor is to promote an initiative to attract foreign investment to New York State, said spokeswoman Melissa DeRosa.

"As part of the Global NY initiative, Governor Cuomo plans to lead a trade mission to Cuba. This is one of several such trips promoting New York that he plans to take in the coming term," she said.

On Friday, the Obama Administration implemented a package of new laws easing sanctions on Cuba, allowing a high level of exchange in trade and travel between the two neighboring countries, which were locked in enmity for over half a century.

On Saturday, a delegation of congressional Democrats began a three-day visit to Cuba to discuss expectations for the normalization of relations between the United States and Cuba.

A U.S. embargo on Cuba has been in force for 54 years and can only be lifted by the U.S. Congress rather than the president. Endi