World Expo opens in Japan

The official opening ceremony takes place on Saturday 12 April, and the pavilion opens to the public the following day.

Norway is part of a Nordic pavilion alongside Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. We are coordinating Norway's participation.

'We look forward to showcasing Norway alongside our Nordic neighbours and working with our partners towards our shared goal of strengthening business cooperation with Japan,' says our CEO, Håkon Haugli.

The World Expo is an international meeting place for representatives from business, organisations, research communities, the cultural sector and government. Its purpose is to foster closer collaboration on global challenges.

This is the classic World Expo for which the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris in 1889 and the Atomium in Brussels in 1958.

'Designing Future Society for Our Lives' is the main theme of Expo 2025 Osaka. The Nordic Pavilion is called 'The Nordic Circle'. It will showcase how we live in the Nordic region, our technology and innovative solutions, and the importance of trust, collaboration and sustainability in our societies. Images, video and soundscapes inside the pavilion will bring this to life.

Norway's participation is funded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian partner companies DNV, Statkraft, Equinor, Kongsberg, GE Healthcare, Rystad Energy and the Norwegian Seafood Council. NHO and LO are also partners. Idar Kreutzer, Director of International Affairs at NHO, is Deputy Chair of the Nordic EXPO Board and Chair of the Norwegian partner group.

'I am pleased that some of our leading member companies are helping to promote Nordic cooperation and the mutual trust we enjoy across the Nordic region. Japan is an important trading partner and a powerhouse for industry, research and technological development. Through our participation at Expo, we aim to build on the strategic partnerships established between Norway and Japan in 2023. This includes closer cooperation on the green transition. Together, we can safeguard our shared interests in economic security, energy security and security of supply,' says Idar Kreutzer.

Throughout the exhibition, the pavilion restaurant will serve Nordic cuisine with an exciting Japanese twist. Award-winning Swedish chef Frida Ronge has created a fusion menu that brings together classic Nordic dishes and Japanese ingredients. One example is Skagen toast with Japanese yuzu kosho mayonnaise and capelin roe.

'For 20 years, I have worked to integrate sustainable Nordic-Japanese cuisine in the Nordic region. This combination has become incredibly popular. Now, it will be wonderful to do the same in Japan,' says Frida Ronge.

Japan is a key market for Norwegian seafood exports. In fact, it was the introduction of Norwegian salmon to Japan that led to salmon being used in sushi, which is now an international success.

'Japan has long been an important market for Norway's seafood industry. We have close ties, shaped both by trade in finished products and by parts of the Japanese seafood industry using Norwegian raw materials. After all, Japan was the birthplace of the global megatrend of using salmon as a sushi topping – the result of a 40-year-old Norwegian-Japanese innovation,' says Christian Chramer, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.

Norway primarily exports fish and fish products, minerals, chemicals, machinery and metals to Japan. Alongside cooperation in science, technology, research and education, Norway and Japan have long enjoyed strong diplomatic relations. This creates significant export opportunities for Norwegian businesses. We are also attracting increasing levels of Japanese investment to Norway across several sectors, including seafood and aquaculture, maritime industries, green energy and health.

'In a world where rules-based trade is threatened by protectionism and tariff barriers, it is important for Norway to secure market access and predictability with a key trading partner such as Japan,' says Kreutzer.

Our Tokyo office works closely with Norwegian companies in renewable energy, maritime industries, healthcare and defence equipment.

'We are seeing growing interest in Japan in these areas, and we promote Norwegian solutions in a market that values relevant expertise. Norway's extensive industrial experience in fields such as ocean technology is in demand as Japan undergoes its transition,' says Haugli.

Expo Osaka 2025 runs until 13 October, and throughout the six-month event, the pavilion will host themed days that will be important for our Norwegian partners. These themed days will focus on energy, space, health and life sciences, food and more.