Catalonia promotes itself as a business investment hub during Catalan Week in Osaka

​​​​​​​Catalonia Trade & Investment is reinforcing economic and business ties with Japan this week during Catalan Week in Osaka, with a focus on positioning Catalonia as a top destination for Asian business investment and tourism. Meetings will be held with leading Japanese multinationals from strategic sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and telecommunications.

Jaume Baró, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment, will meet with executives from companies such as AGC Pharma, Fujitsu, and Denso, among others. These meetings are part of the broader institutional mission led by the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, which includes engagements with organizations such as JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization)—Japan’s official trade promotion agency, and a counterpart to Catalonia Trade & Investment.

In parallel, the Catalan Tourist Board is leading a trade mission to Japan and South Korea, involving 13 Catalan companies and institutions from across the tourism value chain. The goal is to promote Catalonia as a prime destination for Asian visitors and build new commercial links in the region.

Japan: A strategic trade and investment partner for Catalonia

This business mission seeks to strengthen the long-standing relationship between the Catalan and Japanese business ecosystems. ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment plays a key role in supporting Catalan companies’ international expansion and market diversification, ensuring their competitiveness in a complex global environment marked by protectionist trends in certain markets.

Catalonia Trade & Investment has a permanent office in Tokyo, which serves as a key point of contact for Japanese companies interested in establishing or expanding their presence in Catalonia. The Tokyo office actively fosters bilateral business relations, supports foreign investment projects, and provides on-the-ground assistance to Catalan companies seeking to grow in Japan. As part of the agency’s global network, it plays a vital role in deepening economic ties between the two regions.

According to Catalonia Trade & Investment, Japan is one of Catalonia’s main trade partners in Asia, with exports surpassing €1 billion in 2024, a 41% increase over the past decade. This growth underlines the strategic opportunities the Japanese market offers to Catalan companies.

At the same time, the visit aims to highlight Catalonia’s competitive advantages as a strategic gateway for Japanese companies looking to expand into Europe. Between 2020 and 2024, Japanese investment in Catalonia reached €700 million, generating over 3,000 new jobs. Japan ranks as the 7th largest investor in Catalonia globally and 3rd in terms of investment volume captured by ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment over the last five years. Currently, the agency is working with a portfolio of around 30 potential Japanese investment projects.

Showcasing Catalonia’s tourism strengths to Asian markets

The tourism-focused mission, led by Arantxa Calvera, Director of the Catalan Tourist Board, is part of Catalonia’s broader strategy to internationalize and diversify its source tourism markets. The initiative takes on added significance in the current global context, where diversification is key to reducing risks and enhancing resilience.

In a landmark year for Catalonia as World Region of Gastronomy 2025, the mission will emphasize the region’s rich culinary heritage and its appeal to high-value tourists. As part of the agenda, a gastronomic event in Tokyo will be hosted by Michelin-starred chefs Carme Ruscalleda and Joan Roca, featuring wine pairings from Familia Torres, Recaredo, and Freixenet. Presided over by President Illa, the event will bring together 240 prominent guests from the business, cultural, and scientific communities.

Participating companies and institutions in the mission will meet with 140 local tour operators in Tokyo and Seoul to explore new sales channels and present a diverse, high-value tourism offer. Participants include Derby Hotels Collection, Mandarin Oriental Barcelona, Freixenet, Familia Torres, Almanac Barcelona, Montserrat, La Pedrera Foundation, Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation, Joan Miró Foundation, Palau de la Música Catalana, Touring Pandas, and Turisme de Barcelona, showcasing the full scope of Catalonia’s cultural and experiential tourism landscape.