Gov. Andrew Cuomo is proposes a $1.66 billion property tax credit program while speaking at at Hofstra University on Long Island on Jan. 14, 2015. (credit: Mona Rivera/1010 WINS)

ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is heading to Havana, the first American governor to visit Cuba since the recent thaw in relations with the communist nation.

Whether his trade mission generates anything more than headlines, however, remains to be seen.

The formal state visit Monday and Tuesday is meant to foster greater ties between New York and Cuba. Cuomo is expected to take a small group of business leaders for what he has called “a tremendous stepping stone” that will “help open the door to a new market for New York businesses.”

This mission will be a tremendous stepping stone for our State’s relationship with Cuba & help open doors to a new market for NY businesses. — Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) February 26, 2015

Cuomo’s delegation will include Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader and Coalition Co-Leader Jeffrey Klein as well as executives with JetBlue, MasterCard, Pfizer, Chobani and several other companies from a variety of industries.

“The business opportunities that could open up for New York and New York companies is something that is very intriguing,” Heastie told WCBS 880’s Jim Smith.

Trade experts say New York could profit from improved relations with the Caribbean nation. New York farmers could export apples, powdered milk and other dairy products. Businesses could invest big in Cuba‘s developing information technology infrastructure. Hoteliers could build resorts to prepare for the increase in American tourists.

Any significant economic relationship with Cuba will take time, according to Joe Schoonmaker, the chairman of the New York District Export Council who works as a trade risk insurance broker. He predicted that tourism would be the first sector of the Cuban economy to open up and that it will be some time before Cuba is engaging in robust trade.