The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) has announced a design competition for the construction of a joint Baltic (Latvian and Lithuanian) pavilion in the international exhibition Expo 2025 Osaka, which will take place from 13 April to 13 October 2025 in Osaka, Kansai region, Japan.
"The exhibition will bring together 160 countries, 9 international organisations and more than 28 million visitors. It is an excellent opportunity to present Latvia and the Baltic region as an attractive place for trade, investment and tourism. The original plan was for all three Baltic States to attend. It was the offer made by the organisers, but Estonia is the only EU Member that has elected not to participate, so it is up to Latvia and Lithuania to represent the Baltics. With the Baltic Pavilion, we want to demonstrate the singularity of the region as well as its technological sophistication, so we are looking forward to creative ideas on how to surprise the world," says Iveta Strupkaja, Acting Director General of LIAA.
The Baltic Pavilion will be housed in an existing building with an area of 291.24 m2. The pavilion will be located on the left hand side of the building, where the European Union Pavilion is also to be situated, while the Algerian, Cambodian, Tunisian and Chilean Pavilions will be on the right.
The Baltic Pavilion aims to introduce both Japanese and international visitors to Latvia and Lithuania as a united Baltic region, positively surprising them by demonstrating the region's ability to find innovative solutions when it comes to promoting prosperity and tackling global challenges. Expo 2025 Osaka provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Latvia and Lithuania to learn as well as to showcase the fruits of co-creation, offering the other participants an insight into how to work together towards common goals. The Nordic countries have taken a similar approach. Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland will form a joint Nordic pavilion at EXPO 2025.
The rooms of the Baltic Pavilion will primarily house a permanent exhibition to be created according to the concept and design solution proposed by the winner of the design contest.
International communication of Latvia is rooted in the story of Latvia as a country of creativity, aimed at combining talents from different fields to create sustainable solutions for challenges of different scales, based on the three defined values:
- Environment: Connecting Worlds Apart;
- Mindset: Ready for Any Challenges;
- Progress: Natural Playground.
International communication of Lithuania is based on the story of Lithuania as an open country, ready to co-create with the world, addressing global challenges and offering solutions to pressing issues. In positioning Lithuania as a global player, it is important to highlight the country's strengths, including innovation, talent and robust business ecosystems (life sciences, fintech, start-ups, lasers). The values that underpin Lithuania's strengths are drive, constant growth and the freedom to create.
The theme chosen for Expo 2025 Osaka is “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”. The exhibition will focus on international cooperation in building sustainable societies, as well as the value of each individual life and the enrichment of communities, serving as an important milestone and stepping stone towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in their core objective: to realise a diverse, inclusive and sustainable society that creates and nurtures innovations that not only improve individual lives, but also impact on the well-being of society as a whole.
Submissions are open from 10 May to 17 June.
Link to the Electronic Procurement System (EPS) website where the call for tenders can be found: EXPO Osaka 2025 Design Competition.
In addition to the Baltic Pavilion, EXPO 2025 will also feature an extensive business programme, where Latvian companies will have the opportunity to participate and foster cooperation with potential Japanese partners in various industry exhibitions, trade missions and other business-building events.
More information on the EXPO 2025 Business Programme will be available in autumn 2024. Please follow the latest information on the LIAA website and social media.