Fla. Gov. heading to Chile on trade mission

Florida Gov. Rick Scott will lead trade mission to Chile in May

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott is heading back to South America on another trade mission.

Scott will go on a four-day trade mission to Chile from May 20 through May 23. Scott late last year went to Colombia on a four-day trade mission.

This marks his eighth trip abroad since he was sworn in as governor in January 2011.

Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development agency, said that Chile ranks sixth among Florida's top products export destinations.

Florida exports to Chile increased by 24.3 percent from October 2011 to October 2012.

Scott, who has made job creation the top priority of his administration, has defended the trips as vital for the state's economic success.