OSAKA EXPO 2025 TO STRENGTHEN TOURISM TRADE BETWEEN PNG AND JAPAN

By Sandra ULG

The Osaka World Expo will build PNG the tourism trade between PNG and Japan and it will be a great opportunity for PNG to show case its investment opportunities for down-stream and value-adding of its national resources in all major sectors such as Fisheries, Agriculture, Tourism, Forestry, energy sectors as well as to promote and attract investors in Special Economic Zones.

Minister for International Trade and investment Richard Maru made this statement during the recent launch of PNG’s participations in the Expo held in Port Moresby.

The Expo will be held in Yumeshima Island, an artificial Island in the Osaka Bay area, Japan, from the 13th April -13th October 2025. The upcoming expo is coordinated by National Trade Office of PNG, under the Ministry of International Trade and Investment.

A total of 160 countries and 25 international organizations are expected to participate. To this date, 138 countries and international organizations have already confirmed their participation and it is projected that approximately 28.2 million visitors will visit the expo site within the six (6) months.

Minister Maru stated that after 50 years of a bilateral and diplomatic relationship between Japan and Papua New Guinea, it is time to take stock of what the two countries have achieved together as enduring friends and partners over the last 50 years.

He highlighted the two-way trade between the two countries saying PNG’s export to Japan is now reaching US$3 billion. And Japan’s export to PNG just sits under US$500 billion.

He says the balance of trade is in Papua New Guinea’s favor. It is benefiting from that relationship. In terms of trade and investment, PNG is benefiting big time from market access, from the relationship it has with Japan.

He says the truth is, after 50 years of a relationship with Japan, PNG does not have a trade and investment agreement with Japan this narrative must change with PNG’s participation in the Osaka Expo.