Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is traveling to China and Japan later this month to meet with companies looking at locating and expanding in the state.
The Republican governor on Friday announced he's leaving Nov. 15 on a trip to the two countries with state Economic Development Commission Executive Director Mike Preston. Hutchinson said the trip is being paid for by the commission and its nonprofit foundation.
The state has had an economic development office in Japan since 1985, and one in China since 2008. There are currently 16 Japanese companies in Arkansas and four Chinese companies in the state. This will be the third international trade mission for Hutchinson since he took office in January.
He's also visited Europe and Cuba. He's scheduled to return to Arkansas Nov. 24.