site.btaPresident Radev: Osaka World Expo Shows Bulgaria as Regional Innovation Hub

Participation in World Expo 2025 in Osaka will show the modern image of Bulgaria as an emerging regional investment and innovation hub to Japanese society and business, President Rumen Radev said on Sunday during Bulgaria Day celebrations at the World Expo in Osaka.

"Bulgaria’s long-standing friendship with Japan continues to be an important priority in Bulgarian foreign policy. Over the years, cooperation between the two countries has grown steadily in areas such as the economy, science, education, culture, and exchanges between people. Political dialogue and joint work in international forums have also developed consistently," Radev said.

Radev recalled that Asia’s first world exposition, held in Osaka in 1970, became “a showcase for Japan’s economic and scientific-technological progress”. For Bulgarians, he said, the event has symbolic importance because it was where Bulgaria first presented its yoghurt, later “a true calling card of Bulgaria in Japan”.

“This year, with Osaka again as host, we will take another significant step in our partnership,” Radev said, announcing an audience with Emperor Naruhito and a meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at which a declaration on strategic partnership will be signed. Elevating relations, he added, is “a natural outcome of our long-term friendship, common values, and successful collaboration”.

Radev welcomed “growing interest from Japanese business in returning to Bulgaria”, saying more foreign firms now recognize the country’s advantages in high technology, innovation, artificial intelligence, strategic location and stable macro-economic conditions.

Earlier Radev signed the Expo guest book and was greeted by Koji Haneda, Commissioner-General of Expo 2025. Japan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Hisayuki Fujii also addressed the ceremony. 

Later on Sunday Radev and his delegation will tour the Bulgarian pavilion. The cultural programme features traditional dances by the Trakia Folk Ensemble, Church Slavonic chants, opera arias in Bulgarian and Japanese sung by Maria Slavova, and performances by Kalin Veliov, Viktor Nikolaev, the Wladigeroff Brothers and singer Nina Nikolina.

The April issue of BTA’s LIK magazine, dedicated to Bulgaria and World Expos and published in Bulgarian, English and Japanese, will be launched in the pavilion before Bulgarian-language students from Japanese universities. BTA Director General Kiril Valchev will host the event, linked live to the agency’s MaxiM hall in Sofia and to 40 BTA press clubs at home and abroad.

Expo 2025 brings together 165 countries and regions and nine international organizations in about 180 pavilions under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. Running from April to October, the fair is expected to draw nearly 30 million visitors.