The sea becomes a fundamental resource that unites peoples and creates development

Italy's participation in the Osaka Expo is also an opportunity to give a breath of fresh air to relations between the two nations in terms of the maritime economy. It is no coincidence that today, at the official opening of the kermesse, the frigate Marceglia, of our navy, is present in the port of the Japanese city. Next 21 July, then, during the week dedicated to the sea, Nello Musumeci, Minister for Sea Policies, will speak at a meeting in the Italian Pavilion, which will be followed two days later (23 July) by an event of the Italian Civil Defence. In short, the Expo will further bring together two countries that already cultivate conspicuous trade by sea. After all, the Japanese container carrier alliance One (Ocean Network Express) - made up of the main Japanese cargo shipping companies Nyl Line, Mol and K Line - is part of the broader Premier Alliance which, with its liner services, from February 2025, touches the Italian ports of Genoa, Gioia Tauro and La Spezia on the Asia-Mediterranean route.

In 2024, the import-export trade between Italy and Japan (the data are from Srm, the research centre headed by Intesa Sanpaolo) was 12.6 billion euro, of which 8.2 billion in exports (+2.5% on 2023) and 4.4 in imports (-19%). The trade balance is therefore in Italy's favour. 53% (6.7 billion) of the import-export between the two nations is by sea. This is the mode by which we import means of transport, machinery and metals for a total value of 3 billion euro. On the other hand, we export, again by sea, food and beverages, means of transport and machinery worth 3.7 billion euros to Japan.

Japan, moreover, besides being the world's fourth largest economy, is one of the world's leading maritime countries: 99.6% of trade takes place by sea; it is the third largest shipbuilder in the world - after China and South Korea - with an orderbook equal to a global market share of 8%; and third - after China and Greece - also in terms of fleet, with almost 8,700 ships, for about 263 million tonnes deadweight. The exceptionally high percentage of maritime transport use is linked to the fact that the country has no natural resources, depends on others for food, and is not connected by land to other nations; on the other hand, essential goods such as oil and grain are too heavy to be transported by air. Therefore, ensuring stable maritime transport is the basis of Japan's social and economic existence. This is one of the reasons why Japan's national fleet is one of the largest in the world, and the shipbuilding industry supports both the demand for domestic construction as well as warships and patrol vessels for the country's maritime security.

Italy, for its part, ranks fourth in the EU in terms of the added value of the maritime economy (after Germany, France and Spain) and fifth in terms of the number of people employed (after Spain, Germany, Greece and France); it has the world's first fleet of ro-ro ships (for the transport of rolling stock) and, in terms of the construction of cruise ships, covers 40% of the world market. In 2023, through the Cipom (Interministerial Committee for Sea Policies), Italy approved its first National Sea Plan. This plan, strongly desired by Musumeci, was immediately followed up by the Minister, who promoted the preparation of a draft bill (approved by the Council of Ministers) to relaunch the sea economy; the drafting of a further draft bill (also approved by the Cdm) concerning the safety of underwater activities; and the establishment (by Law 101/2021) of the Department for Sea Policies, at the Presidency of the Cdm.