site.btaUPDATED Bulgaria Views Japan as Strategic Partner in Asia, Says Minister of Economy and Industry

Bulgaria views Japan as a strategic partner in Asia, said Minister of Economy and Industry Petar Dilov during a business breakfast of the Japan-Bulgarian Business Association (JBBA). The event was organized in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA).

The meeting was also attended by President Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Innovation and Growth Tomislav Donchev, Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh, Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria Hisashi Michigami, BSMEPA Executive Director Boyko Takov, as well as JBBA Chairman Todor Kesimov.

The meeting AIMS TO present the activities of the JBBA, the development of Bulgarian-Japanese business relations, as well as current information on Bulgaria's preparation and participation in the Osaka EXPO 2025 world exhibition.

"We attach great importance to the development of bilateral relations and strive to further expand our trade and investment ties, including in the context of the strategic partnership between the European Union and Japan," said Dilov. He added that a large business delegation of Japanese companies, led by the Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, will take place in June. In addition, the Ministry of Economy and Industry plans to actively participate in Expo 2025 in Osaka by organizing an event of an economic nature with the participation of companies on site.

Minister Dilov noted that Bulgaria has something to offer Japanese companies, and he pointed out the favourable opportunities for activities in the following areas: information and communication technologies, electronics and electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, high-tech production and services, agriculture and food industry, transport and logistics infrastructure.

The Minister congratulated Japan on the upcoming hosting of Expo 2025 in Osaka and expressed confidence that the country, which, in his words, has enormous potential, will successfully implement the world exhibition. He recalled Bulgaria's participation in the Osaka exhibition in 1970, after which the long-standing partnership between LB Bulgaricum and Meiji began, as did Bulgaria's recognition in Japan. “I am convinced that the good relations will strengthen after Bulgaria's presentation at Expo Osaka 2025 and it will contribute to the positioning of Bulgaria as a high-tech, attractive business and investment destination,” said Dilov.

The Minister of Economy noted that in recent years, bilateral trade relations have been developing dynamically. Efforts are aimed at increasing and diversifying trade, said Dilov and pointed out that in 2024, the trade turnover between Bulgaria and Japan was USD 270 million, which, in his words, does not correspond to the existing potential. He added that Bulgaria also seeks to promote the export of products with a higher degree of processing, machinery and machine components. “We rely heavily on Japan's support in terms of Bulgaria's accession to the OECD,” said Dilov.

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh said that beyond business, which is the main task of the expo, the most important thing for his ministry is the connection between the two peoples and the story of Bulgaria in Japan.  He noted that 60 young people from the tourism and Japanese studies sectors will travel to the exhibition and will do an internship in Osaka. “I hope that we will talk less and less about the fact that this country is unknown and I hope that Osaka will be the place where this will happen,” the Minister added.

In business, sustainable partnerships are built with perseverance, hard work and a long-term vision, said JBBA Chair Todor Kesimov. He pointed out that participation in the 2025 World Expo in Osaka is of strategic importance for Bulgaria, because this is an opportunity to present its potential. The Bulgarian pavilion will be an attractive centre where technology and traditions will meet, and this country will show both its culture and history, as well as the opportunities for business, investment and cooperation with Bulgarian manufacturers and companies, he added.

BSMEPA Executive Director Boyko Takov said that Osaka Expo 2025 is preparing to welcome 158 countries, which will present themselves within 6 months, between April 13 and October 13, 2025. “Today, expo events are a space for dialogue and ideas that shape humanity's response to the most important challenges of our time,” said Takov. He recalled that in the spring of 2022, the BSMEPA was designated by the Council of Ministers as the organizer of Bulgaria's participation in Expo Osaka 2025. An interdepartmental working group has been formed, led by the Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, with the participation of experts from various key ministries, the Union of Architects, the Chamber of Architects, the JBBA and other organizations. This year, Bulgaria will be represented with its own top-class pavilion in Zone A, among the most prestigious locations of the exhibition, located between the pavilions of Singapore and the Netherlands, opposite one of the main entrances of the Expo Center, which guarantees excellent visibility and high attendance, said Takov. The sub-theme of the exhibition, which includes the Bulgarian pavilion, is saving lives and covers the challenges that threaten people and life on the planet. This sub-theme is related to areas such as health, well-being, peace, human security and dignity.

In the course of organizing this country’s participation, Bulgaria has approached authorized Japanese companies to provide a specially customized pavilion for rent, and after reviewing the submitted offers, technical analysis, online meetings and a decision by the working group, the company Daiwa Lease Сo.,  part of the Daiwa Group corporation and the largest Japanese company for renting industrial space, was selected. The pavilion was designed and implemented with the participation of architect Hiroto Kobayashi, Professor of architecture at Keio University. Architect Kobayashi has visited Bulgaria several times for working meetings with the Agency, the Union and the Chamber of Architects. Takov explained that from a spatial perspective, the Bulgarian pavilion combines traditional elements with modern interactive technologies, which create not only a modern design and a conceptually clean space, but also a unique immersive digital experience. “For our pavilion, as well as for the entire expo, circular politics and sustainability take center stage. After the exhibition, every part of our pavilion will be recycled or reused. Ecological materials, such as wood and textiles, were chosen for its construction, with each part of the installation carefully considered in view of its future applications,” said Takov.

In the process of selecting the concept of the Bulgarian pavilion, a public call was made for submitting ideas and proposals for the visual presentation of this country. The project of architect Maria Gospodinova, Iskren Krastev and the company MP Studios was selected through a vote.

The exhibition will take place in the Japanese city of Osaka, Kansai region, from April 13 to October 13. Bulgaria’s Day will be on May 18, 2025 and will be marked with a special programme. The exhibition is expected to be visited by over 28 million people, 90% of whom will be from Japan. Bulgaria hopes to welcome a significant part of them in its own pavilion, which will be accessible to visitors 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 27 weeks.