38 companies from Abruzzo, Italy, participated these days in the first edition of the international Foodex Japan fair (Tokyo, 7-10 March 2023) open to international exhibitors after the break imposed by the pandemic.

The initiative was part of a programme of internationalisation and development initiated by the Abruzzo Region and entrusted to the Agenzia di Sviluppo, the special company of the Chieti Pescara Chamber of Commerce, an Enterprise Europe Network partner, that is characterised by the fundamental collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency, Consorzio di Tutela Vini d’Abruzzo and Assocamerestero. The total presence of 38 regional companies in Japan represent an absolute record, the largest group of companies in 25 years of Agenzia di Sviluppo’s activity related to Japan. This was made possible thanks to the financing of the Abruzzo Region.
The list of the participating companies is available here. 

The mission to Japan was not only an homage to the gastronomic specialties of the region of Abruzzo but also an opportunity to develop three ongoing projects of great relevance:

• The first focused on the automotive sector, characterised by a series of meetings with some Japanese multinationals: Honda, Denso and Pilkington (NSG Group), that decided to invest in Abruzzo by opening local offices aimed to establish a direct comparison of existing dynamics, and made possible proposals for further industrial development.
• The second project marked the start of the EXPO Osaka 2025 planning and included several meetings with Japanese authorities and Italian representatives of the organising committee of the Italian Pavilion directed by Andrea Marin, former Director at EXPO Dubai 2020 and of Abruzzo origins.  
• The third project is dedicated to tourism and aims to develop relationships with selected Japanese operators interested in experiential travel.

This was a first step towards the creation of solid synergies between the Abruzzo ecosystem and Japan, aiming to foster fruitful connections between Abruzzo companies and Japanese business partners.

Source: Agenzia di Sviluppo - Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chieti Pescara