The World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, was officially inaugurated on 12 April 2025 with the opening ceremony graced by their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, as well as Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko. Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, along with representatives from participating countries, dignitaries from the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, Expo organizers, and international delegates, also attended the event.
Bhutan was represented at the inauguration by the Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE) and accompanied by representatives from the Department of Trade, Department of Tourism, the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the private sector.
The Expo 2025 will focus on the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, a space where 8 billion people from around the world will actively participate in co-creating our future society. With participation from over 158 countries, regions and International organizations, the Expo will feature cutting-edge innovations, exhibits and knowledge-sharing sessions. The aim is to bring together diverse perspectives, foster collaboration and generate innovative solutions to address global challenges. Over 28 million visitors are expected to attend during the course of the event.
At the invitation of the Government of Japan, Bhutan is participating in Expo 2025 under the national theme “Saving Lives for a Happy Future.” The Bhutan Pavilion, located in Commons-D of the Expo site, will showcase its unique approach to development through five key themes aligning with the philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) – Happy Future, Promotion of Good Governance, Preservation and Promotion of Culture, Environmental Conservation, and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development. Each theme will be showcased through immersive exhibits, videos, events and interactive activities. These elements will come together to tell a cohesive story, offering visitors a meaningful glimpse into Bhutan’s distinctive approach to development.
The Expo provides an invaluable platform to promote Bhutan’s culture and natural heritage on the world stage, enhancing its global brand and promoting tourism. It also opens doors for Bhutanese businesses to explore new ideas, technologies and partnerships. Cultural showcases are also likely to spark increased global interest in visiting Bhutan, while strategic engagement throughout the Expo offers opportunities to attract foreign investment by showcasing Bhutan’s economic potential, business-friendly policies and its commitment to sustainable development.
Bhutan’s participation in Expo 2025 is spearheaded by the Department of Trade, MoICE, in collaboration with key government agencies and the private sector. The Commercial Pavilion at the Expo will be managed and operated by the BCCI. The pavilion will serve as a vibrant platform to showcase, promote, and sell a diverse range of locally made Bhutanese products to an international audience. In addition to product promotion and sales, the BCCI will also play a key role in facilitating strategic business engagements during the event. This includes organizing and coordinating Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings aimed at fostering trade partnerships and investment opportunities. Furthermore, the Chamber will coordinate targeted business promotion visits to Japan, providing Bhutanese entrepreneurs and stakeholders with the opportunity to explore potential collaborations and expand their market reach in Japan and beyond.
The Bhutan Pavillion and its commercial shop was officially opened on 13 April, 2025 by the Secretary and will be open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. With the opening, the Bhutanese pavilion warmly welcomes all visitors to experience Bhutan and its unique values, development philosophy, and aspirations with the global community. The Expo will run until 13 October 2025 at Yumeshima, Osaka.
