Distinguished colleagues, Representatives of the Trade Promotion Organizations of the Member States of the European Union, Representatives of the EU-Japan Centre, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a distinct pleasure and an honor to welcome you today to the offices of the Italian Trade Agency here in Tokyo.
We are gathered for a meeting that I believe is of vital importance for the future of European Trade Promotion Organizations active in Japan.
Your presence here today reflects a reality that has become increasingly clear in recent years: while we each represent our respective national interests and priorities, we operate in a global environment where cooperation among European partners is no longer optional—it is a strategic imperative.
The economic relationship between the European Union and Japan is among the most advanced and comprehensive in the world. It is a relationship built on a bedrock of shared values, high regulatory standards, and a deep, mutual commitment to an open, rules-based international trade system.
The EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement has provided us with a stable and predictable framework. It has yielded tangible benefits for our companies—particularly our SMEs—by systematically reducing trade barriers and facilitating smoother market access.
Simultaneously, our Strategic Partnership Agreement has allowed us to deepen our cooperation in areas that extend far beyond traditional trade: from digital governance and the green transition to research, innovation, and economic security.
In an international landscape currently marked by geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and intense technological competition, the EU and Japan increasingly view one another not merely as trading partners, but as like-minded strategic actors. This shift creates opportunities on a scale that is often too large and too complex for any single Member State to address in isolation.
In this context, the work carried out by our Trade Promotion Organizations is essential.
We serve as the operational interface between the European private sector and the Japanese market. It is our responsibility to translate high-level policy frameworks into concrete commercial opportunities: through business missions, trade fairs, investment facilitation, and the daily support we provide to firms navigating what is undeniably one of the world’s most sophisticated and demanding business environments.
However, we also face a set of common challenges—and none of these challenges stop at national borders. Therefore, meetings like today’s are more than a routine exchange of information. They represent a broader, more ambitious effort to move from simple coordination toward genuine, integrated cooperation among all European actors in Japan.
The concept of “Team Europe” is not a slogan reserved for development policy or external affairs. It has a very practical, very functional meaning for those of us working on trade and investment in a market as advanced as Japan.
Our cooperation is particularly relevant in the sectors currently reshaping both the European and Japanese economies. The green transition is not only a climate necessity; it is a massive industrial transformation where European companies hold a competitive edge and where Japan is committing significant investment. Similarly, the digital transformation is opening new corridors for partnerships in high-value, innovation-driven sectors.
In these domains, European visibility, credibility, and critical mass can be the deciding factor. By working more closely together, we enhance our collective ability to position European solutions as reliable, high-quality, and perfectly aligned with Japan’s long-term policy objectives.
As we look toward the future, the upcoming Horticultural Expo in Yokohama will offer yet another structured platform for EU–Japan engagement, particularly in fields such as sustainability, urban development, and green innovation.
Let me conclude with a simple observation.
Europe’s economic presence in Japan is significant, diversified, and technologically advanced. But its full potential will only be realized if we continue to cultivate the habit of working together—pragmatically, flexibly, and with a shared strategic vision.
Today’s meeting is an integral part of that process. I am confident that the exchange of experiences this afternoon will not only improve our individual national activities but will reinforce the collective European footprint in Japan.
Thank you for your commitment, your spirit of cooperation, and your tireless work in support of European companies. I wish you all a highly productive and inspiring meeting.