In October 2022, the very first IPM took place in preparation for Expo 2025 Osaka. The representatives of the participating countries travelled down to Osaka Kansai, Japan, for this purpose. BelExpo was also able to travel to Osaka for the occasion for a first official visit to the city and the exhibition site.
On 26 October 2022, the BelExpo team participated in the first ever IPM or Internatiational Planning Meeting. That meeting takes place in preparation for Expo 2025 Osaka. More than 100 representatives of participating countries were present at that meeting, including our Commissioner-General Aldwin Dekkers and the Director-General of International Economy Renaat Schrooten.
The IPM took place 900 days before the start of the expo, on 13 April 2025. During their trip to Osaka, Team BelExpo was able to make its first official visit to the expo site where the Belgian pavilion will be built. The pavilion will be built on Yumeshima Island, an artificial island in the city of Osaka. The Belgian pavilion will be one of the self-built pavilions, where other countries will rent a pavilion.
BelExpo was also warmly welcomed at Osaka City Hall by representatives of the city. This allowed our team to really get to know the city, the local authorities and the population for the first time. The beginning of a long and successful collaboration between Belgium and Japan!