Cofrex, Business France and the French Chamber of Commerceand Industry in Japan (CCI France-Japan) sign a partnership agreement
surrounding the France Pavilion for Expo Osaka 2025
Paris/Tokyo, November 9, 2023

From left to right : Jacques Maire, Marie-Cécile Tardieu et Jérôme ChouchanWith the aim of mobilizing the French and Japanese business ecosystems
surrounding the France Pavilion for Expo Osaka 2025, Mr. Jacques Maire, GeneralCommissioner of the France Pavilion and Chairman of the Compagnie Française desExpositions (Cofrex), Ms. Marie-Cécile Tardieu, Chief Operating Officer (Investment
Division) of Business France and Mr. Jérôme Chouchan, President of the French
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan (CCI France-Japan) have signed atripartite partnership agreement to contribute to the dynamic of promoting French
representation at this global event bringing together an audience of all ages.
From April 13 to October 13, 2025 in Osaka (Kansai region of Japan), with the theme“Designing the society of the future, imagining our life tomorrow”, broken down into
three sub-themes – “Saving lives”, “Empowering lives”, “Connecting lives” – the World
Exhibition is an international laboratory of expertise and innovation in harmony with
the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It stands out as a unique opportunity topromote the expertise and innovations of public and private players nationwide bysharing them with as many people as possible.
By choosing to express its messages through the sub-theme “Empowering lives”, theambition of the France Pavilion is part of a desire to promote French expertise in all its
diversity and boldness. The France Pavilion will enjoy an exceptional location, opposite

the Japanese Pavilion and the main entrance, with the tripartite partnership beingorganized there to include the organization of the “Business Leaders Forum 2025”, acalendar of networking sessions, conferences, welcoming delegations from allnations.
For Jacques Maire, General Commissioner of the France Pavilion and Chairman ofCofrex: “With Business France and the CCI France-Japan, Team-Export France will
become a partner of Cofrex for Expo Osaka 2025. The France Pavilion is a platformand event format serving French businesses. It will welcome them for six months
under the same ambition, to promote France in the region.”“I am delighted that through this partnership, Business France can provide its expertisein supporting French businesses, which carry and promote their proficiency
throughout the world, thereby contributing to France’s influence. As true standards ofour country internationally, French firms proudly display their capacities for innovationand daring, knowing just how to anticipate current and future transformations. This is
the whole point of Expo Osaka 2025, which will contribute to further strengthening
relations between France and Japan,” said Marie-Cécile Tardieu, Chief Operating
Officer (Investment Division)
Jérôme Chouchan, President of the CCI France-Japan, expressed his enthusiasm
about this unique partnership: “The partnership between Business France, Cofrex and
our Chamber of Commerce is a real opportunity, a powerful alliance to open theJapanese market to our businesses and to show the strength of French innovation inJapan. The synergies involved will allow the French pavilion to embody the excellence,creativity and expertise of our nation around the central theme of the hymn to love.”
About COFREXFounded in January 2018, Cofrex SAS, a publicly owned company, is the firstpermanent structure dedicated to the preparation, organization and implementation ofFrance’s participation in World and International Expos. Its sustainable approachdraws on the experience of previous exhibitions for optimal organization, at best cost
and with the least impact. It is based on a partnership between public and private
players, working around France’s image and attractiveness.
For further information, please visit: www.cofrex.fr
About the France Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025
The World Expo Osaka 2025 in Japan will be held from April 13 to October 13, 2025 on
the theme “Designing the society of the future, imagining our lives of tomorrow”,
broken down into three sub-themes: “Saving lives”, “Empowering Lives” and“Connecting Lives”. It will take place on Yumeshima Island, an artificial island locatedin Osaka Bay comprising a 155-hectare (383-acre) site, the general architecture ofwhich has been entrusted to the architect Sosuke Fujimoto. Together, all the Pavilions
will be connected by a “roof ring” 615m in diameter and 2,000m around thecircumference, distributed in three macro-zones: Green World, Pavilion World andWater World.
More than 150 countries will be represented and 28 million visitors are expected at theevent. The France Pavilion, whose ambition is to promote French innovations andexpertise, will be located in the “Empowering lives” area, near the Japan Pavilion andthe main entrance to the World Exhibition.
For further information, please visit: www.franceosaka2025.fr
About Business France
Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of
the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, aswell as promoting and facilitating international investment in France.
It promotes France’s companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as aninvestment location, and also runs the VIE international internship program.
Business France has 1,500 personnel, both in France and in 55 countries throughout
the world, who work with a network of partners.
Since January 2019, as part of the reform of the state support system for exports,
Business France has given private-sector partners responsibility for supporting French
SMEs and mid-size companies in the following markets: Belgium, Hungary, Morocco,
Norway, the Philippines and Singapore.
For further information, please visit: www.businessfrance.fr @businessfrance
About the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in JapanThe French Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Japan (CCI France-Japan) is oneof the leading foreign chambers in Japan, being the oldest, the largest EuropeanChamber in Japan and the third largest in the CCI France International global network.
Since 1918, the CCI France-Japan has built a solid business network, bringing together
more than 650 members of all nationalities. Including branches and business centersin Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka, the CCI France-Japan positions itself as theinternational platform promoting fruitful relationships between its members anddeveloping business opportunities between France and Japan.
With 800 existing member businesses, our ambition is to become the benchmark
international business community in Japan by 2026, thanks to regional expansion, ourcustomized activities and services, as well as the establishment of an interactive
communication platform.
For further information on the activities of the CCI France-Japan, please visit:https://www.ccifj.or.jp/services-aux-entreprises/implantation-et-businesscenter.html

Media team
COFREX:•Caroline Le Got – cofrex@hkstrategies.com•Nathalie Mercier – nathalie.mercier@cofrex.fr•

Mélissa Reymond – melissa.reymond@cofrex.fr

Business France:•

Séverine de Carvalho – Tel: +33 1 40 73 73 88 – Mobile: +33 6 82 23 69 12
severine.decarvalho@businessfrance.fr•

Siham Morchid – Tel: +33 1 40 73 30 74 – Mobile: +33 6 59 37 56 87
siham.morchid@businessfrance.fr

CCI France-Japan:•Perrine Loock – p.loock@ccifj.or.jp