New Jersey now has an official presence in Europe for the first time since 2012.

Gov. Phil Murphy, along with other state officials, announced the opening of the Choose New Jersey Europe office in Berlin Tuesday.

The office will be led by Nichola Michels, who will represent the state at trade conferences and business meetings in Germany. Officials say that this is an effort to lure some of the companies to New Jersey in the future.

The governor and his wife headed overseas Monday for a nine-day trip to Germany and Israel. Murphy said the goal of the trip is to grow investment opportunities in New Jersey.

It is Murphy’s first overseas trip in his capacity as governor of the state.

Murphy was previously the U.S. ambassador to Germany under former President Barack Obama.