by InTrieste
In a continued effort to deepen its relationship with Japan, the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia hosted a high-profile delegation from the Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) this week. The visit, which took place at the headquarters of “Tec4I FVG” in Udine, marked another step in the region’s ambitious drive to foster international cooperation and attract investments.
“The ties that our region continues to strengthen with Japan open new horizons for our businesses,” said Sergio Emidio Bini, the Regional Councillor for Economic Development. “These connections bring significant opportunities for growth, internationalization, and innovation—both through investments in Japan and by attracting productive activities to our territory.”
Bini highlighted the upcoming 2025 Osaka World Expo as a milestone moment in this partnership, emphasizing the shared values of pragmatism, seriousness, and rigor between the people of Japan and Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The visit by the Jetro delegation follows a November 2024 mission to Japan by Bini and Friuli Venezia Giulia Governor Massimiliano Fedriga, during which they met with key economic and institutional figures, including Jetro President Susumo Kataoka. “Japan is among the top five global import markets and serves as a gateway to the Asia-Pacific region,” Bini noted. “For a region like ours, a logistics hub in Central Europe with a strong commitment to innovation, consolidating relationships with international partners is strategic.”
During their visit, the Jetro delegation engaged with regional stakeholders and companies from sectors such as information and communication technology, life sciences, and agri-food. The delegation also presented a matchmaking platform aimed at connecting Friuli Venezia Giulia’s businesses with Japanese partners.
The collaboration between Friuli Venezia Giulia and Japan is not new. “Our relationship with this extraordinary country dates back to 2016, with visits and exchanges that laid the groundwork for a lasting partnership,” Bini said. He pointed to 2024 as a year of significant milestones, culminating in meetings with Japanese business leaders and firms, including Kito Crosby, which has been active in the region since 2016, and Mitsubishi Electric Europe BV, which collaborates with the Trieste-based Francesco Parisi Casa di Spedizioni.
Today’s meeting was organized by the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and the Select Friuli Venezia Giulia Agency, an organization dedicated to attracting foreign investments. Attendees included Stefano Casaleggi, president of Tec4I FVG; Yu Miyake, Jetro’s Director General; Chinami Yamamoto, Director of Research and Investment Promotion in Japan; and Raffaella Cortellazzi, Director of External Relations and Institutional Affairs.
As Friuli Venezia Giulia positions itself as a key player in international trade and innovation, its deepening relationship with Japan offers a template for how regional governments can leverage global partnerships for local growth.
