Jyväskylä Participates in Osaka World Expo 2025
The City of Jyväskylä will take part in The Nordics at EXPO 2025 Osaka in Japan. This partnership will bring broad international visibility to the city throughout the exhibition and provide an opportunity to showcase Jyväskylä’s strengths and appeal as part of the Nordic presence, coordinated by Business Finland together with other Nordic partners.
The Osaka Expo is expected to attract more than 28 million visitors from around the world, and the joint Nordic Pavilion is anticipated to welcome approximately 1.7 million guests during the exhibition. Jyväskylä’s participation strengthens the city’s role as an international cooperation partner and highlights its expertise not only in the context of Finland–Japan collaboration but also on a global scale.
A significant element of the partnership will be Jyväskylä Day, held on 9 September at the Nordic Pavilion. The event will be organized in collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä, JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Visit Jyväskylä Region, the Cefmof Foundation, Harvia, and the EXPA Game Cooperative. The day will bring together invited guests from Japan’s academic and business communities to network around key themes for Jyväskylä. It has been proposed that the hosts of the day will be Mayor Timo Koivisto and City Board Chair Jukka Hämäläinen. The rest of Jyväskylä’s delegation will consist of experts responsible for seminar content, speeches, and the practical implementation of the event.
Participation in the World Expo supports Jyväskylä’s strategic priorities and internationalization. The Expo partnership has opened doors to other international events organized by Business Finland, such as Finland Day, which was also attended by the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb. In addition, Jyväskylä is involved in Business Finland’s communication and marketing initiatives, where the strengths and leading areas of the Jyväskylä region are presented to international audiences alongside other partners.
At the same time, Finland–Japan cooperation is being deepened in a concrete way. Collaboration with Japanese actors is particularly important and timely for Jyväskylä, as the city already engages in extensive cooperation, for example, with Toyota. Furthermore, all organizations and representatives in the delegation have a clear connection to Japan through their own activities, research and development projects, or collaboration partners.
The trip will be carried out in cooperation with regional partners, with the city serving a coordinating role. Partner organizations will cover their own travel and accommodation costs as well as contribute to the expenses related to organizing the event.
Jyväskylä’s participation in the Osaka World Expo strengthens the region’s international profile and creates opportunities to build new partnerships, attract investment, and promote the region’s appeal from the perspectives of business, research, and tourism. This is a unique opportunity to establish long-term cooperation and open doors to future partnerships.
Further information:
City of Jyväskylä
Ari Tolonen, Deputy Mayor, Business Development and Employment
Tel. +358 40 556 7822
