From 13 April to 13 October 2025, Latvia participated in “EXPO 2025 Osaka” in Japan, the world’s most significant and largest exhibition dedicated to national image promotion and export capability development. The exhibition brought together 158 countries and 7 international organizations, attracting more than 28 million visitors from around the world. Participation in the exhibition enabled a broad audience from Japan and other countries to become acquainted with Latvian culture and traditions, while also helping to attract potential investors.
The overarching theme of the exhibition was “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, highlighting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The joint Latvia–Lithuania pavilion adopted the sub-theme “Saving Lives”, presenting technological solutions aimed at improving quality of life while adhering to high environmental standards.
In total, 190 pavilions were featured at the exhibition. However, due to an extensive and diverse programme of cultural and business events at the Latvia–Lithuania pavilion—including more than 75 events and conferences showcasing Latvian traditions, culture, and business—it attracted a record number of visitors, approximately 900,000 guests. Latvia’s participation in EXPO 2025 Osaka was organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia.
Among the most notable events were the Latvian National Day celebrations, featuring an extensive cultural programme and the specially created performance “Echo | Atbalss”, as well as the business forum “Transforming Cities and Mobility through Innovation & Technology. Humans Powered by Technologies.” The forum was attended by the President of Latvia, Edgars Rinkēvičs, along with the largest Latvian business delegation ever to visit Japan.
Across all business-related activities at EXPO 2025 Osaka, including the dedicated business programme organized in Japan, more than 200 Latvian companies participated or were represented. Business programme activities in Japan are still ongoing, and the full results are expected to be measurable by 2028. However, companies have already established 1,798 contacts and concluded 34 cooperation agreements as a result of these activities.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia approved Latvia’s participation in the international exhibition EXPO 2025 Osaka on 25 January 2022, after reviewing the information report prepared by the Ministry of Economics and the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, and positively assessing the organization and outcomes of Latvia’s participation in EXPO 2020 Dubai.