Japan-Luxembourg Business Reception Highlights Growing Economic Ties

On Thursday 26 March 2026, the Japanese Ambassador to Luxembourg, Mamoru Nomura, hosted a Japan-Luxembourg Business Networking Reception.

Organised in collaboration with the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the lunchtime event brought together companies that joined or expressed interest in the Economic Missions to Japan in 2024/2025, as well as representatives of Japanese companies based in Europe.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Nomura noted that 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Japan in Luxembourg. "I am honoured to celebrate this milestone by bringing our business communities together today," he said, later noting that the "variety of participants in this room [...] reflects the strength and diversity of the ties that connect us".

The ambassador - who presented his credentials in December 2025 - reflected on last year's highlights, notably Expo 2025, where he said Luxembourg's presence was "a clear signal of the importance it attaches to its partnership with Japan". He added that the Expo "served as an important platform for strengthening economic ties", highlighting the trade missions organised by the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in the areas of space, IT and health technologies.

Looking back further, to 2024, the ambassador highlighted milestones such as the Japan-Luxembourg Air Services Agreement, which entered into force on Thursday 26 March 2026. Another example was the memorandum of cooperation signed between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA).

He also highlighted the Luxembourg presence of Japanese companies, including five Japanese banks, four insurers and three crypto companies.

"Today is about turning momentum into action," Ambassador Nomura concluded, encouraging attendees to use this opportunity to network, find new partners and discover new projects.

Carlo Thelen, Director General of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, shared this desire to further strengthen ties between the two countries. He noted that 2025 trade missions to Japan brought together about 100 companies and eighteen institutions with 160 participants; the visits generated 78 business-to-business (B2B) meetings and thirteen company visits in key sectors such as technology, space and health. He also highlighted the success of the Luxembourg Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.

Carlo Thelen recalled that Japan is one of Luxembourg's most important trading partners in Asia, adding that the "potential for deeper cooperation between Luxembourg and Japan is truly significant". Looking ahead, he said the next year would be "particularly meaningful" as 2027 marks the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. "This milestone offers a unique opportunity, not only to honour our shared history, but also to build on our achievements and further deepen the cooperation in areas that will define the next century," he said.

JETRO representatives, visiting from Brussels, then delivered a presentation on Japan's business environment and the support offered by JETRO, a Japanese government-related organisation that works to promote mutual trade and investment between Japan and the rest of the world. The organisation has offices across the globe, including sixteen in Europe. The Brussels office works with Belgian, Luxembourgish and Japanese companies.

JETRO facilitates economic connections between Japan and other countries with the following missions: facilitating innovation; supporting exports; supporting Japanese SMEs; conducting research and surveys. 

Speaking about what makes Japan an attractive market, the JETRO representatives highlighted some of the country's key industries: digital technology; life science (including digital health technology); sustainability and energy; manufacturing (and space); tourism and hospitality. They also recalled that Japan is a large market offering a good environment for innovation and research, political stability and a high standard of living.

In terms of support, JETRO provides temporary office spaces across Japan and - in its Tokyo office - an event space for businesses, as well as information on the Japanese market, industries, regulations and legal systems, and networking opportunities.

The event continued with a networking reception.