Minister Joly and Minister Ng announce award of contract for Canada Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

July 6, 2023 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

World Expos provide an opportunity to celebrate culture, deepen economic ties and strengthen international relationships.

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, which will take place from April 13, 2025 to October 13, 2025, is an opportunity for Canada to strengthen the economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between Canada and Japan. The Expo will also build on our effort to create opportunities in the context of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and further develop connections between both countries as shown by the upcoming Team Canada Trade Mission to Japan in October 2023.

Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development announced the contract award for the design and construction of the Canada Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

Following an open, competitive and transparent procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of Global Affairs Canada, awarded a contract to ES Global, who will lead a consortium bringing together a talented Canadian team including:

  • JKFL Productions
  • Mirari as the creative team, with Robert Lepage as the Artistic Advisor
  • Soleil Launière, a First Nations Cultural Advisor
  • Rayside Labossière Architectes, and
  • Guillaume Pelletier Architecte

The team will work together to deliver a memorable Canada Pavilion where visitors can discover Canada’s diversity, creativity and commitment to sustainability. 

Quotes

“Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is an opportunity to reaffirm the shared values and interests between Canada and Japan, including a partnership on global challenges and strengthening the rules-based international order.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

“The Canada Pavilion in Osaka will stand as the flagship of Canada’s participation in the World Expo and serve as a meeting place for businesses and innovators alike. It will broaden opportunities for Canadian companies to compete in thriving global markets.”

- Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

“Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is a chance for Canada to shine a light not only on the country but also on the exceptional talent we foster here. This important contract award brings together top Canadian talent to demonstrate all that Canada represents and offers to the world.”

-The Honourable Helena Jaczek
Minister of Public Services and Procurement   

“We are thrilled to have been awarded the design and construction of the Canada Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. Together with our Canadian production and creative team, we will bring to life a compelling visitor experience, which explores the rich diversity of Canada and celebrates a deep friendship with our Japanese hosts.”

-      Olly Watts and Jeff Burke, Joint CEOs ES Global

Quick facts

  • Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai will take place in Osaka, Japan from April 13, 2025 to October 13, 2025. The theme is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives". A focus for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai is global collaboration and progress in the context of fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over 150 countries and international organizations are expected to participate and up to 28 million visits are anticipated over the six-month event.

  • Released in November 2022, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy sets out the importance of Canada’s bilateral relationship with Japan, Canada’s only G7 partner in the Indo-Pacific. The strategy identifies Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai as a key initiative to showcase Canadian innovation, resources, investment and education to Japan and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

  • Previously, Canada participated in the International Exhibition in Dubai, UAE from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. It was the first world fair in both the Middle East and the Arabic-speaking world and recorded over 24 million visits

  • In May 2021, Canada and Japan agreed on six areas of bilateral cooperation that will advance common interests in the Indo-Pacific region. These six areas are the rule of law; peacekeeping operations, peacebuilding and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; energy security; health security and responding to COVID-19; free trade promotion and trade agreement implementation; and the environment and climate change.

  • With a gross domestic product of $5.5 trillion in 2022, Japan is the world’s third-largest national economy, and one of Canada’s most important economic and commercial partners. Japan is also Canada’s largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Indo-Pacific, with stock valued at $40.7 billion in 2022.

  • Canadian investment in Japan is also significant and diverse. There are Canadian companies operating in the country, across a variety of sectors, including in the automotive, information and communications technologies, financial services, and forestry sectors.

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Contacts

Shanti Cosentino
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development
343-576-4365
Shanti.Cosentino@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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