Slovenia at Expo 2025 Osaka

The main theme of this year's World Expo is "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," focusing on the concept of Society 5.0, which aims to create a coexistence between the virtual and real worlds, balance economic development, and address societal challenges. Organizers expect over 28 million visitors to view presentations from more than 160 countries and regions worldwide.

Slovenia: Towards a Better Future

This year, Slovenia will be exhibiting in a group pavilion, following the idea of connecting hearts between Slovenia and Japan, summarized by the slogan "From Heart to Heart." The Slovenian pavilion will combine sustainability, innovation, and rich cultural heritage, offering visitors a unique digital and physical experience that showcases Slovenia's vision as a green and digital country of the future. Slovenia will display its most advanced technological solutions, innovative industries, and unique way of life based on sustainability and connections. Key highlights of Slovenia's presentation at Expo in Osaka include smart and sustainable future (Smart Living) and beekeeping as a way of life, Slovenia as a sports powerhouse, culture as a connecting bridge, and tourism of the future.

Details of Slovenia's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka were presented by guests at a press conference organized by SPIRIT Slovenia before the opening.

H.E. Akiko Yoshida, Japanese Ambassador to Slovenia, emphasized the long-standing close friendly relations between Japan and Slovenia and that Expo is a good opportunity to further strengthen these ties. She expressed confidence that the presentation of Slovenian achievements in sustainability, advanced technologies, and cultural heritage at Expo will make a great impression on all visitors.

Slovenia's Commissioner General for Expo 2025 Saša Leban emphasized that Expo 2025 is more than a world exhibition for Slovenia; it is a strategic, symbolic, and very concrete opportunity to show the world who we are, where we want to go, and what we can contribute to the common future. According to her, the Slovenian pavilion will showcase solutions that demonstrate the ability to connect innovation, sustainability, and smart approaches into concrete working models, as even a small country can provide important answers to future challenges. Thus, the focus will be on examples of good practices in green transition, self-sufficiency, local self-supply, smart homes, breakthrough solutions, and smart industry.

Due to its proactive approach, Slovenia has also become part of the executive committee of BIE (Bureau International des Expositions), an international organization with representatives from 25 countries that represent all participating countries and have a direct influence on the shaping and direction of world expos, said the Secretary General, adding that Slovenia will also play an important role in the official thematic weeks of Expo, participating in events on sustainable development, mobility, technology, health, and culture.

Visiting Expo for New Business Opportunities

Japan is identified as one of the key opportunity markets in the national internationalization program. Therefore, Slovenia's participation in Expo 2025 is an exceptional opportunity to upgrade bilateral relations with Japan and strengthen the economic presence of Slovenian companies in this strategically important market, said Jernej Salecl, Director General of the Directorate for Industry, Entrepreneurship, and Internationalization. Experiences from past presentations of Slovenia at Expo show a doubling of trade with the host country and a significant increase in the number of tourists from these countries.

Acting Director of Spirit Tamara Zajec Balažič invited Slovenian companies to participate in official business delegations visiting Expo 2025. During the delegation visits, targeted meetings between company representatives, investment forums, and presentations will be provided, where Slovenian companies can connect with Japanese and international partners, especially in areas where we have excellent knowledge and innovations - digitalization, green technology, sustainable mobility, and high-tech solutions. Four official delegation visits are planned.

Slovenian Pavilion: An Interactive, Living Organism

At the end of the presentation, conference participants were virtually guided through the pavilion by Gorazd Skrt, Director of the Slovenian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. The pavilion will not only be a presentation space but a living organism that will take visitors through the story of Slovenian innovation, sustainability, and connection with nature. Slovenian regions will be presented in the pavilion with natural attractions, cultural and artistic societies, and a program prepared in collaboration with local companies.

An interactive experience for visitors will be provided by the main screen with video content showcasing natural and tourist attractions, economy and development of advanced technologies, and sports, and six interactive screens with fun facts, videos, and QR codes on various topics: beekeeping, advanced technologies, culture, sports and economic achievements, tourist and natural attractions, explained Petra Tolja, Head of Events, Logistics, and Protocol at the Slovenian Pavilion. Visitors will also be able to experience a virtual cycling tour of Slovenia with VR glasses.

Slovenia will be presenting in a group pavilion in Osaka, with an exhibition space of 53 m², additional space (22 m²), showroom (15 m²), and shared stage in the pavilion. The conceptual solution for Slovenia's presentation at Expo Osaka 2025 was prepared by Pristop, d.o.o. with partner Renderspace, d.o.o., and the architectural and multimedia design of the exhibition space was prepared by Arhitektura Jure Kotnik d.o.o. Slovenia shares the group pavilion, located in the CS-2 area, with 10 other countries (Croatia, Gabon, San Marino, Guatemala, Ukraine, Montenegro, Panama, Israel, Slovakia, and Uruguay).