Osaka Expo spawns business ties, job opportunitiesーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS

Key Concepts

• 2025 World Expo in Osaka: A major international event showcasing technology and fostering global business connections.
• Waste Oil Recycling: A business initiative focused on processing used cooking oil from restaurants and convenience stores.
• International Business Development: The process of establishing and expanding commercial relationships across national borders.
• Labor Shortage in Hospitality: A significant challenge faced by Japan's hotel and service industries due to a lack of available workers.
• Job Fair for Expo Staff: An event designed to connect individuals who worked at the expo with potential employers.
• Cross-Cultural Business Engagement: The practice of interacting and conducting business with individuals and organizations from different cultural backgrounds.

Business Development Opportunities at the 2025 World Expo

The 2025 World Expo in Osaka served as a significant platform for fostering international business connections and showcasing innovative technologies. The six-month event provided opportunities for individuals and companies to engage with global partners.

Case Study: Waste Oil Recycling Initiative

Doy Kotaro, an employee at a waste recycling firm in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, leveraged the expo to explore international business prospects. His company specializes in recycling oil discarded by convenience stores and restaurants. Doy's objective was to identify potential business partners from around the world.

• Encounter at the Zambia Pavilion: Doy met a Zambian staff member at the Zambia pavilion. This interaction led to a discussion about Zambia's environmental challenges, specifically the issue of waste oil.
• Potential Collaboration: Doy recognized that his company's expertise in waste oil recycling could address Zambia's needs. He immediately consulted with his company's president.
• Company Response and Action: The president, initially uncertain about the implications of a connection with Zambia, conducted further research and identified potential for their business.
• Field Survey in Zambia: Following discussions, the company decided to conduct a field survey to assess the feasibility of establishing a waste oil recycling business in Zambia.
• Zambian Official's Perspective: A Zambian official expressed enthusiasm for the technology, stating, "This is really really good technology. Very impressive. It would be good for us." The official highlighted the growing restaurant sector in Zambia and the significant potential for oil recycling.
• Expo as a Catalyst: Doy views the expo as a crucial first step in potentially developing new business ventures.

Job Opportunities and Skill Showcase

Beyond business development, the expo also facilitated employment opportunities by showcasing the job skills of its staff.

• Job Fair for Expo Staff: A job fair was held in September, attracting over 100 employers, including those in the service industry.
• Addressing Labor Shortages: A hotel and luxury inn operator from Nagano Prefecture, facing a severe labor shortage in Japan's hospitality sector, actively recruited at the expo.
• Identifying Qualified Candidates: The company sought individuals with strong foreign language skills and extensive customer service experience, qualities often possessed by expo staff.
• Expo Staff's Transferable Skills: One pavilion worker, who attended a final interview, noted the similarities between their expo duties (e.g., managing entrances, equipment maintenance) and hotel operations. They emphasized the problem-solving skills acquired by dealing with diverse guests and unexpected situations, stating, "I believe everyone working at the expo has been tackling problems as a team. They have been dealing with issues that are not in the manual like handling guests from various countries."
• Employer's Interest: The employer expressed a desire to utilize the expo staff's experience in their company.

Conclusion

The 2025 World Expo in Osaka demonstrated its capacity to generate tangible economic benefits beyond its immediate technological displays. The event facilitated crucial international business connections, as exemplified by the waste oil recycling initiative with Zambia, and provided a valuable recruitment pool for industries facing labor shortages, such as the hospitality sector. The connections forged during the expo are anticipated to have a lasting positive impact on the economy.