Friuli-Venezia Giulia strengthens its partnership with Japan, paving the way for new growth opportunities

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Friuli Venezia Giulia is strengthening its partnership with Japan and seeking new opportunities for shared growth. This relationship was consolidated with the signing in Osaka of the Memorandum of Understanding (on 3 July 2026), which provides for a multi-year collaboration in the fields of life sciences, research, technological innovation, skills transfer, the development of start-ups and SMEs, the green transition and attracting investment. The agreement also promotes the exchange of information, the implementation of joint initiatives and the strengthening of ties between institutions, universities, research centres and the industrial sector. Signed as part of the World Health Expo Osaka 2026 by the Councillor for Infrastructure and Transport, Cristina Amirante, representing President Fedriga, and by the Osaka Prefecture, through the Director-General of the Department of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Katsuhiro Higashiguchi, the MoU forms part of the process of strengthening relations between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Japan, which began at Expo Osaka 2025 and has been consolidated through various institutional, economic and scientific cooperation initiatives, including the special edition of Selecting Italy (an event dedicated to attracting foreign investment and developing regional value chains).

This agreement also represents the main outcome of the institutional mission (held from 28 June to 5 July 2026) and lays the foundations for strengthening economic, commercial and institutional relations between the two regions, fostering future joint initiatives in the fields of industry, innovation, research and investment. Among the key participants in the mission – organised in collaboration with ICE Tokyo – was the Select Friuli Venezia Giulia delegation.

A programme of B2B meetings with Japanese companies and participation in the WHX Osaka 2026 trade fair were the two main highlights of the official mission. The Italian delegation met with Japanese companies operating in various sectors, ranging from agri-food to manufacturing, from advanced materials to precision engineering, and extending to the biomedical and life sciences sectors. The meetings provided an opportunity to present the regional economic system and to explore potential prospects for investment and collaboration with Friuli Venezia Giulia.

During the World Health Expo in Osaka, activities were organised to promote the region, along with meetings with international business representatives and networking initiatives. On 2 July, a talk dedicated to Friuli Venezia Giulia took place, featuring Professor Daniele Sblattero from the University of Trieste and Piero Conte from FoodPharm, introduced by the Director-General of Select Friuli, Lydia Alessio-Vernì. On the first day of the event, the delegation also welcomed Hirofumi Yoshimura, Governor of Osaka Prefecture, and Hideyuki Yokoyama, Mayor of Osaka, to the region’s stand. Both expressed their appreciation for Friuli Venezia Giulia’s presence at the event and confirmed their desire to strengthen institutional cooperation with the region. Furthermore, the Mayor of Osaka stated that he would be visiting Italia in October and might be interested in an official visit to Friuli Venezia Giulia. Later, in the presence of Amirante, the stand also received a visit from the Deputy Governor, who subsequently signed the MoU on 3 July.

“With this Memorandum, we aim to consolidate a stable relationship with Japan and develop a structured partnership in the areas of investment, infrastructure, innovation and life sciences,” emphasised Amirante, explaining that “the document marks both the culmination of the process undertaken in recent years and a starting point for new opportunities for shared growth”.