Cuomo Lauds Cuba's Progress Growing Private Sector

Back from his trade mission to Cuba, Governor Andrew Cuomo is already hailing the trip a success.

The governor and a delegation of state and business leaders left the island Tuesday in time for the governor to attend an event in the evening.

Afterwards, the governor spoke exclusively to NY1, and he says as the United States and Cuba begin to normalize relations, now is the best time for New York companies to get in on the ground floor.

"It's an amazing time to be in Cuba. You feel history happening. You feel the change as you're there. Cuba itself—forget what the United States is doing—Cuba itself is changing. Over 500,000 private sector jobs now," Cuomo said.

On the last day of his trip, the governor visited Mariel Port, which is undergoing a $900 million expansion.

Because of the trade embargo, ships that dock here are prevented from coming to the United States for 180 days.