EXPO 2005 Aichi will be held in Seto City, Nagakute Town and Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture in an area covering approximately 173 hectares.
Duration : 25 March - 25 September, 2005 (total of 185 days).
Expected number of visitors is approx.17 million.
The Participants in Expo 2005 are: Nations, regions, private enterprises, independent citizens and NPOs/NGOs.

The 5 Nordic countries, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Island, will jointly participate. The participation will promote Norway positively in Japan and East Asia and it also represents a unique opportunity for Norwegian trade and industri to gain access to the Japanese market. Participation also opens up for increased bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology, tourism, culture, etc.

The theme for 2005 World Expo is "Nature's Wisdom" with focus on environment, energi, nature resources and how IKT and biotechnology can give new possibilites. These are areas where Nordic countries can contribute positively and receive positive attention. In connection with the Norwegian Prime Minister’s visit in Japan in May this year, an important Bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement was signed. Participating in the EXPO 2005 Aichi provides a good opportunity to further strengthening the bialeral cooperation between Japan and Norway in the fields of science and technology. Norway’s target could be as the Canadians proclaim “committed at the highest level to making sure that our participation is second to none. We want to make sure that what we bring to Japan and offer visitors is an experience that will be memorable.”

World Expo 2005 presents a good opportunity to build on the well-established reputation of Norway and the Nordic countries and their industries and tourism opportunities to the Japanese and international audiences.

However, Norway is also rich in other ways, such as its cultural diversity and the role it plays on the international peace and security arenas. EXPO 2005 Aichi provides a venue where we can share our stories with the world.

Norway and Japan diplomatic relations celebrate 100th anniversary in 2005. EXPO 2005 Aichi provides an ideal opportunity to further build our bilateral relationship. Japan is Norway’s 8th largest trading partner and far the largest single market for fish and seafood. We want to further stimulate bilateral trade by making business leaders in both countries more aware of what the opportunities are.

In order to support and facilitate participation from international companies and industries, the Nagoya government has set up an associate organization - International Business Access Center (I-BAC) - which provides a number of services for companies wishing to participate in various ways at the World Expo. These include market research, product testing prior to World Expo (so that companies can tailor their marketing based on actual Japanese customer feedback), organizing study tours of industrial facilities, arrangement of business meetings and various business support functions. Further details on I-BAC can be found on their Web site: http://www.i-bac.jp . Most importantly, all these services are free - so this represents a great opportunity for Norwegian companies to take advantage of.

Links:
http://www.expo2005.or.jp/
http://www.i-bac.jp
http://www.jetro.org.au/aichi/Aichi.E-Bulletin.files/Aichi.E-Bulletin.June2003.pdf
Aichi-Nagoya International Business Access Center http://www.i-bac.jp/
young expo-supporters http://mediazone.tcp-net.ad.jp/iam-seto/index-e.html
Chubu bureau METI http://www.chubu.meti.go.jp/kokusai/gaikokugo/index.htm
Aichi Prefecture http://www.pref.aichi.jp/expo/index-e.html
Seto City http://www.city.seto.aichi.jp/e/main_e.html
BIE http://www.bie-paris.org/
AICHI VOICE http://www2.aia.pref.aichi.jp/
Ministry of Foreigh Affairs http://www.mofa.go.jp/index.html
Central Japan International Airport Co.Ltd. http://www.cjiac.co.jp/foreign/english/index.html
City of Nagoya http://www.city.nagoya.jp/indexe.htm