Catalonia strengthens economic ties with Japan

Catalonia and Japan are entering a new phase of strategic economic collaboration, marked by record-breaking trade figures, major Japanese investment, and an institutional mission to Asia led by the Government of Catalonia from May 26 to 31.
 

“Japan is a top-tier investor for Catalonia, with strategic projects in leading sectors that generate wealth and high-quality employment”

Salvador Illa, President of the Government of Catalonia

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 In 2024, Catalan exports to Japan surpassed €1 billion for the first time, representing a 41% growth over the last decade. Japan is now Catalonia’s second-largest trading partner in Asia, after China. Leading exports include pork meat (34.5%), vehicle parts and accessories (16.4%), and organic chemicals (6.8%). A total of 834 Catalan companies export regularly to Japan, demonstrating long-term commercial engagement.

Imports from Japan to Catalonia have also surged, reaching €1.9 billion this year, a 49% increase over ten years. Key imports include automobiles (58.6%), machinery (12.2%), and electrical equipment (9.8%).

Japanese investment accelerating in Catalonia

Between 2020 and 2024, Japanese companies invested €700 million in Catalonia, creating over 3,000 jobs, according to fDi Markets (Financial Times). Japan ranks as the 7th largest global investor in Catalonia, with key investments in ICT, pharmaceuticals, and industrial machinery. Prominent Japanese companies include:

• NTT DATA, a global ICT leader, which opened its new innovation center in Barcelona in May 2025. It is the Japanese company with the most employees in Catalonia—4,000 in total.
• Sony AI, part of Sony Group Corporation, which in 2024 announced a new artificial intelligence center in Barcelona, its second in Europe.
• AGC, which in 2022 expanded its Malgrat de Mar facility with a €90M investment, creating 100 new jobs.
• Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc., the video game giant with a mobile game development studio in Barcelona.

The Catalan Government actively supports this bilateral relationship through its Tokyo office, established in 1988 as the first international office of Catalonia Trade & Investment. Japan is currently the third country in terms of total investment volume captured by the agency (2010–2024), and fifth in terms of the number of projects. Today, Catalonia Trade & Investment manages a portfolio of 30 active Japanese investment leads, representing 5.8% of its pipeline.

Institutional mission to Japan: deeper partnerships through economic diplomacy

​​​​This week, the Government of Catalonia is undertaking a high-level institutional mission to Japan and South Korea to strengthen trade, investment, and scientific cooperation. On May 27, the Catalan delegation, led by the president of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, held a series of business meetings with leading Japanese companies already operating in Catalonia or exploring investment opportunities.

Participating companies included KAO, Sojitz, Midokura (Sony Group), Fujitsu, Kaneka, Nisshin Oillio, and AGC. President Salvador Illa stated: "Japan is a top-tier investor for Catalonia, with strategic projects in leading sectors that generate wealth and high-quality employment. The Government's goal is to continue strengthening and expanding this priority relationship."

The Catalan delegation also visited the Japan Chamber of Commerce to explore closer collaboration in both directions—supporting Catalan businesses entering Japan and Japanese firms expanding in Catalonia. Meetings were attended by the Ambassador of Spain in Japan, Íñigo de Palacio, and the President of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu.

Later in the week, the delegation visited NTT DATA’s headquarters in Tokyo. NTT DATA is one of the top six ICT consulting firms in the world and the leading one in Japan. The Catalan Government expressed its strong support for the company’s presence in Catalonia and encouraged further collaboration and growth.

Showcasing Catalonia’s innovation and global vision

The mission also included a broader agenda to promote Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem and cultural identity. Among the week’s key activities was a meeting with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Catalonia’s counterpart in Japan under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. JETRO plays a strategic role in attracting foreign investment, promoting Japanese exports, and fostering industrial and technological cooperation.

Another highlight was the inauguration of Catalan Week at Expo 2025 in Osaka, a flagship event that will showcase Catalonia’s creativity, culinary excellence, and commitment to sustainable development. A main highlight will be gastronomy, especially since Catalonia has been named World Region of Gastronomy for 2025. Gastronomy contributes 20% of Catalonia's GDP. The Osaka Expo will therefore also be used to commercially boost Catalan products and companies in the Japanese market, particularly Catalan wine.  

The mission also includes a co-organized event with the Riken Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), located in Kobe. Under the name TECH Talks: Barcelona-Catalonia–Japan Collaboration in Supercomputing, the event aims to celebrate the continued collaboration between two of the world's leading supercomputing centers: RIKEN R-CSS and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). A signing ceremony to extend the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research cooperation between the two institutions, signed in 2022.

This institutional mission confirms Asia’s growing strategic importance for Catalonia. Through stronger economic, academic, and cultural connections, the Catalan Government is committed to building long-lasting bridges with key Asian markets like Japan and South Korea.