By Associated Press
Montgomery AL – Governor Bob Riley is headed to China and Japan again to pursue economic development and educational opportunities.
Riley said Thursday he will be in China Oct. 10-13 for economic development meetings and to talk to Chinese officials about establishing an Alabama office in the country to help Alabama companies with exporting needs.
While there, Riley will meet with Troy University officials who are partnering with China's National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. There are plans for a nonprofit institute at Troy to teach Chinese language and culture, and university officials hope to expand educational and economic opportunities for Alabamians through the institute, Riley said.
"Many of the meetings we'll have in China will set the groundwork for a larger trade mission planned for next year," the governor said in a statement.
On Oct. 13-17, Riley will be in Japan, where he said he will lead more than 40 state, local and business officials attending the Southeast U.S.-Japan Association conference in Tokyo. Riley said he will also meet with executives of several Japanese companies that have operations in Alabama or might soon open operations.
Currently, 65 Japanese companies operate in Alabama, and they employ more than 14,000 Alabamians. Japan is Alabama's fourth largest export market, Riley said.
Riley previously visited Japan in 2005 and China in 2006.