Take a virtual journey with us on the Asia 2007 mission.

Asia mission 2007 led by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce got underway this weekend. Mayor Franklin is leading a Chamber delegation of 20 business leaders to Japan and Korea on an economic development mission to explore business opportunities and promote Atlanta.

Mayor Franklin (center) holds a press conference at the departure gate at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, along with Hans Gant, senior vice president of economic development for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce (left), and John Lee, president of the Korean Southeast U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Objectives of the Asia mission include:

• Leveraging Atlanta Sister City connections for economic development
• Visiting with Asian companies that already have a presence in metro Atlanta
• Meeting with prospects in Asia that could possibly expand to metro Atlanta
• Promoting metro Atlanta as a global business center

During the eight-day trip, the business delegation will visit six cities in three countries: Seoul and Daegu in South Korea; Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka in Japan; and Taipei, Taiwan. The delegation returns Monday, April 30.

Along with several companies, the delegation will also be visiting elected officials such as the mayors of Fukuoka and Daegu – as well as sister city officials.

Mayor Franklin and several delegates departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sunday, April 22. They are traveling to Asia on Korean Air, a Delta SkyTeam partner. An advance team departed one day earlier to make an additional stop in Nagoya, Japan.

The mayor and the business delegates, who departed on Sunday, will be in transit to Japan through Monday when they will meet up with the rest of the business delegation for the first official stop in Fukuoka, Japan, an Atlanta Sister City.

Our next Web trip update will be on Tuesday, April 24, and will include a recap of events in Fukuoka.