Havana--New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo met with Cuban officials and business leaders Monday in Havana on a whirlwind tour with a delegation of US executives.
Cuomo, the first US governor to visit the island since the countries announced in December they would move to restore diplomatic ties after more than half a century, held a working lunch with Cuban Trade Minister Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz, his office said.
He also met business leaders from both countries at a Havana hotel, where he was welcomed by the director of the trade ministry's North America department, Maria de la Luz B'Hamel.
The Democrat's delegation included executives from MasterCard, JetBlue airlines and pharmaceutical firm Pfizer.
The move to restore ties between the former Cold War foes has piqued the interest of US companies barred from Cuba since Washington slapped a crippling trade and financial embargo on the island in 1962.
Cuomo was welcomed by Josefina Vidal, the chief diplomat for US relations at the Cuban foreign ministry and the official who has been leading the island's talks with Washington on restoring ties.
The governor is due to give a press conference Tuesday before heading back to New York.
AFP
