New York governor concludes Cuba trip

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wrapped up a two-day trade mission to Cuba Tuesday, saying the visit was "productive and mutually advantageous."

Cuomo, the first U.S. governor to officially visit the island since Cuba and the United States decided to normalize their relation, headed a delegation of business leaders and local legislators.

During the trip, U.S. firm Infor signed a deal to resell software in Cuba. Charles Phillips, Infor's CEO, said he was "surprised" and "impressed" by the level of technology and experience in Cuba's health sector.

In addition, U.S. and Cuban companies, mainly in the health sector, signed several agreements Tuesday.

New York's Roswell Park Cancer Institute, meanwhile, signed a deal with Cuba's Molecular Immunology Center to carry out clinical trials in the United States of a Cuban vaccine against pulmonary cancer.

Earlier in the day, Cuomo met with Cuba's First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel to discuss the economic reforms spearheaded by Cuban leader Raul Castro and the potential of trade between New York and the Caribbean country.

According to Cuban News Agency (ACN), Cuomo pledged to do everything he can to help normalize ties, which meant the half-century-long trade embargo imposed by Washington against Cuba could be lifted.

The trade mission arrived in Cuba Monday to ensure New York state is "present (from the) beginning of the adventure," Cuomo said, referring to the process launched by Cuba and the United States in December to normalize ties after more than five decades of animosity. Endi