Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and a delegation of city council members, economic development officials and others left Friday on a trip to South Korea, Japan and Taiwan.

Members of Phoenix Sister Cities also were on board for the flight during which, according to a city release, Gallego will “advance dialogue with companies exploring business expansion in Phoenix.”

She also is planning to continue her push for direct, nonstop flights connecting Phoenix and Asia and “celebrate established Sister City relationships,” the release stated.

“Our trip will help us expand Phoenix’s global presence, foster meaningful partnerships with cities around the world and continue our strong efforts in delivering on critical economic drivers back home,” Gallego said.

Gallego first traveled to Taiwan in 2019, a trip that coincided with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Phoenix’s Sister City status with Taipei.

During that visit, the Phoenix delegation pitched sites to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. TSMC was considering other states before the company narrowed in on Arizona, according to the release.

Last year, TSMC announced that it would more than triple its investment in Arizona from $12 billion to $40 billion, making it one of the largest foreign direct investments in United States history, city officials said.