The information was translated using the ChatGPT service.
During its meeting on October 24, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers was briefed on the current information regarding Latvia's preparations for participation in the international exhibition "Expo 2025" in Osaka, Japan.
For its participation in "Expo 2025 Osaka," Latvia plans to create a joint Baltic States pavilion, which will promote the visibility of the region while preserving each country's individual programs. The Baltic States will be represented by Latvia and Lithuania, as Estonia has decided not to participate in the exhibition. Latvia has been designated as the lead country in organizing the Baltic Pavilion, which will be rented from the exhibition organizers.
The exhibition in Japan is planned to take place from April 13, 2025, to October 13, 2025. The theme of the exhibition is defined as "Shaping Future Societies for Our Lives," with an emphasis on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The exhibition organizers have assigned the sub-theme "Saving Lives" to the Baltic Pavilion, which focuses on improving the quality of life with the help of cutting-edge technology while adhering to high environmental standards. As of now, 153 countries and 8 international organizations have confirmed their participation in the exhibition, and it is expected to attract approximately 28 million visitors.
The Cabinet of Ministers also decided to allocate EUR 5,653,989 from the Ministry of Economics budget for Latvia's participation in the exhibition. This includes the rental fee to the exhibition organizers, pavilion and exhibition setup costs, utility expenses, content development, and employee expenses.
Participating in "Expo 2025" is a unique opportunity to position Latvia internationally as a country focused on technology and innovation development. It also provides an opportunity for our companies to expand their network of contacts and meet potential collaborators from many countries worldwide. Collaboration with Japan has significant potential to increase exports and attract investments. By participating in "Expo Osaka," Latvia aims to increase exports to Japan by EUR 50 million and attract additional investments of EUR 30 million by 2028.
The country's participation in the exhibition will open opportunities for Latvian companies that develop products, technologies, and solutions in line with Latvia's smart specialization strategy areas, including knowledge-intensive bioeconomy, biomedicine, medical technologies, pharmaceuticals, photonics, smart materials, technology, and engineering systems, smart energy, and mobility, as well as information and communication technologies. Additionally, the exhibition can provide opportunities for sectors such as tourism, transportation, and logistics, among others.
Furthermore, to maximize the benefits of Latvia's participation in Expo exhibitions, the government has decided to join the International Exhibitions Bureau (Bureau International de Expositions - BIE). Membership in BIE will provide opportunities such as voting for the next Expo host country, discounted pavilion rental rates at exhibitions, participation and voting on operational matters of the pavilion, and more. To achieve this, an annual payment of EUR 9,600 from the Ministry of Economics budget will be provided.
The previous World Expo, "EXPO 2020," took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and was attended by 443 Latvian companies. The exhibition, which ran from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, saw a 52% increase in exports to the UAE since 2021. During the exhibition, 13 different sector trade missions and 10 national stands were organized. It also marked the launch of direct Air Baltic flights to Dubai, with a 49% increase in tourist numbers from the UAE. Moreover, during the exhibition, an agreement was reached to establish a joint investment fund between the two countries, and Latvia's Exporter Association "The Red Jackets" signed a memorandum of understanding with Sharjah Research, Technology, and Innovation Park, which includes 14 of the best universities in the UAE. In addition to the direct benefits of cooperation with the UAE, ties were also strengthened with other countries in the region, especially with Saudi Arabia, the most significant economic power in the Middle East region.