ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal will travel to Japan to explore business development opportunities and attend an economic development conference.

Deal will lead a state delegation at an annual meeting of about 500 business leaders and public officials from Japan and southeastern United States. His trip started today and lasts through Sept. 15.

The governor’s aides say it is his fourth and final economic development trip of 2012.

Japan is Georgia’s sixth largest global trade partner. In 2011, Georgia imported more than $4 billion in Japanese products. The state exports more than $1.2 billion to Japan.

Columbus-based AFLAC will host a reception for the Georgia delegation in Osaka. Coca-Cola will host a reception in Tokyo.

Deal’s office has not said how much the trip will cost state taxpayers.