DENVER (AP) - A delegation from Colorado is heading to Santiago, Chile, for a trade mission starting Saturday.

The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade says the goal is to help four Colorado-based companies launch or increase their export business in Chile.

DFC Ceramics, Geotech Environmental Equipment, TEI Rock Drills, and Western Sling and Supply plan to attend Expomin 2012, a biennial event for the mining and construction industries.

An export-promotion grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration is paying for the trade mission.

Colorado exports to Chile have been increasing since the signing of the U.S.-Chile free trade agreement, which took effect in 2004. Colorado exports to Chile reached $42 million in 2011.

The trip comes less than a month after Gov. John Hickenlooper led a trade mission to Mexico.

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