INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Mike Pence is traveling to Japan for his first overseas trade mission as governor.

Pence left Indianapolis Thursday morning and plans to return in nine days. First lady Karen Pence and other public and private officials are joining him for stops in Tokyo, Nagoya and Tochigi Prefecture, Indiana's Japanese sister-state.

Officials from the Indiana Economic Development Corp., local development leaders and business owners, consultants and lawyers round out the more than 40-member delegation.

Pence plans to attend the Japan-U.S. Midwest Conference and meet with government and business leaders, including executives from Japanese companies with Indiana operations.
 
Japan is considered Indiana's largest trading partner in Asia. The cost of the trip is being paid for by private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.