Rep. Keith Ellison is traveling to the Middle East during the congressional recess for a weeklong trade mission to Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

Ellison is making the trip with Katie Clark, executive director of the Minnesota Trade Office, as well as about 10 business leaders from Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.

He left last week for stops in Istanbul and Ankara, Turkey, before flying this weekend to Dammam, Saudia Arabia. On Monday he and the delegation flew to Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, the Saudi capital, where he'll stay until returning home later this week.

The purpose of the trade mission is to establish business connections in the Middle Eastern countries, according to a description of the trip. Ellison made the trip through the House Financial Services Committee.