by InTrieste
Officials from Friuli Venezia Giulia began an institutional mission to Japan on Wednesday, seeking to strengthen economic and infrastructure ties while positioning the region as a key European logistics hub along emerging trade routes between Asia and Europe.
The regional delegation met with senior officials from the ports of Tokyo and Yokohama, as well as representatives of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the government agency responsible for promoting foreign trade and investment. The discussions focused on expanding commercial cooperation, sustainable logistics, and new opportunities for investment and collaboration between businesses and port systems.
Cristina Amirante, the regional councillor for infrastructure and territory, said the mission aims to reinforce Friuli Venezia Giulia’s role in international supply chains, highlighting the potential of the proposed India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as an alternative route connecting Asian and European markets.
Regional officials said the corridor could complement the Suez Canal by providing greater resilience to global shipping networks, reducing the impact of disruptions that have, in recent years, forced vessels to reroute around Africa, increasing transportation costs and delivery times.
The delegation also examined development strategies at the Tokyo metropolitan area’s major ports, with particular attention to the Port of Yokohama, whose decarbonization initiatives earned the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ Sustainability Award in 2025. Regional representatives compared those efforts with ongoing investments in Friuli Venezia Giulia’s port system, including shore-side electrification, hydrogen infrastructure, and broader modernization projects.
According to regional officials, the meetings revealed common interests between Japan and Friuli Venezia Giulia. While Japanese stakeholders are exploring new commercial routes amid increasing competition in East Asia, the Italian region is promoting its logistics network, centered on the Port of Trieste, its free port zones, and intermodal transport connections, as a gateway for trade between Asia and Europe.
The mission also forms part of the region’s broader strategy to attract international investment and foster cooperation in sectors ranging from logistics and exports to innovation and startup development.
