«Discover Japan» New prospects for Greek-Japanese trade and investment relations
«Discover Japan» New prospects for Greek-Japanese trade and investment relations
Event organised by Enterprise Greece, SEV, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Panhellenic Exporters Association (PEA) on access to the Japanese market and trade and investment opportunities, held as part of the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair
Athens, 9 September 2026 | The “Discover Japan” event was held with great success on Sunday, 6 September, at Pavilion 13 (Stand 9) of the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, as part of Japan’s participation as this year’s Guest of Honour Country. The event highlighted the opportunities available to Greek businesses for accessing the Japanese market, the prospects for expanding bilateral trade and investment relations, and the value of sharing practical experience from companies already active in Japan. It was co-organised by Enterprise Greece, the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Greek Exporters Association (SEVE), with the support of the Enterprise Europe Network HELLAS and Eurobank.
The event aimed to provide Greek companies with substantive, practical information on the business environment in Japan, on opportunities for trade and investment cooperation, and on the conditions for successfully operating in the Japanese market. The programme highlighted both the institutional and diplomatic dimensions of Greek-Japanese relations and the trade and investment opportunities through specialized briefings combined with the transfer of practical experience from Greek companies already active in the Japanese market.
The event opened with welcome remarks by Mr Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, Mr Themis Sarasidis, President of SEVE, Ms Vicky Makrygianni, Director of International Relations at SEV, and Ms Eleni Foti, Director of International Trade Relations at ACCI. The event was moderated by Ms Dina Athanasiou, Senior Advisor in SEV’s International Relations Division.
Mr Dimitris Skalkos, Secretary General for International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of Enterprise Greece, stated: “As the outward orientation of the Greek economy continues to strengthen, our excellent political relations with Japan and its economic dynamism offer significant opportunities to further deepen our economic and trade cooperation in the fields of digital technology, green energy, agri-food and maritime infrastructure — sectors where tangible results are already being recorded, pointing to the direction our economic diplomacy is already taking.”
The President of the Greek Exporters Association (SEVE), Mr Themis Sarasidis, noted that: “The economic relationship between Greece and Japan has gained new momentum in recent years, with significant scope for even closer cooperation. The bilateral trade picture is indicative: in 2025, Greek exports to Japan rose by 41.8%, reaching €318.2 million, while the two countries’ total trade volume approached €600 million. Yet behind these figures lie far greater possibilities. Shipping has long been a strong bond between the two countries, while new opportunities are taking shape in energy, green technologies, innovation, tourism and the agri-food sector. Strengthening investment ties is also an important area, as the stock of Japanese direct investment in Greece stood at €67 million in 2024 — a level that indicates considerable room for further growth, particularly given the scale and international presence of the Japanese economy. Japan is a large and demanding market that values quality, reliability and consistency — qualities in which Greek businesses can invest even further. Our goal at PEA is for this positive momentum to translate into more substantive business contacts, new trade and investment partnerships and, ultimately, a stronger and more multidimensional economic relationship between Greece and Japan.”
Ms Vicky Makrygianni, Director of International Relations at SEV, emphasized that: “Japan is a particularly important, yet demanding, market for Greek businesses. And that is precisely what makes it so attractive: success in the Japanese market is a strong confirmation of quality, reliability and competitiveness. Greece and Japan may be geographically distant, but in today’s economy distance matters less than connections. At SEV, we want to turn existing potential into concrete business opportunities, more Greek exports, investments and new partnerships. Japan’s presence as Guest of Honour Country at this year’s Thessaloniki International Fair is an excellent opportunity to give fresh momentum to the economic relations between the two countries and, above all, to move from dialogue to action.”
Ms Eleni Foti, Director of International Trade Relations at ACCI, noted: “Japan’s presence as Guest of Honour Country at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair is an important opportunity to further strengthen Greek-Japanese economic and business relations. The two countries have significant scope for cooperation in trade, investment, technology and innovation. ‘Discover Japan’ allowed Greek businesses to better understand the Japanese market, its particularities and the opportunities it offers, as well as to learn about ways of accessing it. ACCI remains firmly at the forefront of business outward orientation, building bridges with international markets and opening paths for new ideas, opportunities and partnerships.”
The Ambassador of Japan to Greece, H.E. Mr Ito Koichi, and the Ambassador of Greece to Japan, H.E. Ms Olga Kliamaki, who took part via video conference, then addressed the progress and prospects of Greek-Japanese bilateral relations.
Ambassador Ito Koichi stated that: “Japan and Greece are building on the Strategic Partnership our leaders agreed three years ago. This progress has been reinforced by the Japan-EU Economic Partnership Agreement and our bilateral Tax Treaty, which together have eliminated customs duties on most trade items, removed double taxation, and created an excellent framework for business. In today’s challenging world, Japanese and Greek business leaders are once again seeking new opportunities together, grounded in mutual trust and shared values, while Greece’s rich history and its role as a gateway to Southeast Europe make it an increasingly attractive partner for Japan. Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has promoted Japanese business abroad for over 60 years and signed a cooperation agreement with Enterprise Greece in 2023. For all these reasons, I see this seminar not simply as an exchange of information but as a real starting point for new business between us, with strong potential and closer engagement with Japanese consumers.”
Ambassador Olga Kliamaki noted that Japan’s participation as Guest of Honour Country at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair marks a milestone in deepening the two countries’ economic and business relations. Beyond the long-standing cooperation in shipping, the upgrading of the two countries’ relationship to a Strategic Partnership in 2023 opened new horizons for cooperation across a wide range of sectors. Having referred to the investment opportunities offered by the Greek economy, she noted the pivotal role played by the Embassy in supporting Greek businesses in Japan. In closing, Ambassador Kliamaki called on the business community to seize this positive momentum, turning the historic friendship between the two peoples into sustainable partnerships and mutual economic prosperity.
Bilateral trade and investment opportunities in Japan
In the session “Bilateral Trade and Investment Opportunities in Japan”, Ms Kaoru Kurita, Director General of JETRO Milan, presented Japan’s business and investment environment, while Ms Eleni Almpanti, i-services Senior Officer at Eurobank, highlighted the economic and trade dimension of Greek Japanese relations and the opportunities being created for Greek businesses.
Doing business in Japan – experiences of Greek companies
In the session “Doing Business in Japan”, moderated by Mr Panagiotis Chasapis, Executive Vice-President of PEA, Ms Lila Kourti, Export & Marketing Manager at Trikalinos S.A., Mr Sven van Asperen, Exports Manager at Eurimac, and Mr Yannis Mastrokostas, Director of Government Affairs at Papastratos, shared practical experience from their activities in the Japanese market and highlighted the requirements and particularities faced by exporting companies in practice. The event closed with a Q&A session, allowing for a direct exchange of views with participants.
The event was held with the support of Eurobank’s Exportgate.
Greek Japanese economic relations in figures
According to the most recent available data:
- In 2025, Greek exports to Japan rose by 41.8%, reaching JPY 89.8 billion (approximately €544.2 million), with the bilateral trade balance now turning into a surplus for Greece — an unprecedented development compared with figures from previous decades.
- Japanese business groups are gradually expanding their investment footprint in Greece, with interest focused mainly on energy, green infrastructure, digital technology and logistics.
- According to data from the Greek Embassy in Tokyo, around 45 Japanese companies are currently active in Greece, mainly in shipping, tobacco, automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals and machinery, with the majority engaged solely in trading activities rather than large-scale direct investment.
- The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) facilitates access for European and therefore Greek products to the Japanese market through simplified rules of origin and reduced tariff burdens. This opens new prospects for Greek exports, particularly in food products (olive oil, confectionery/bakery products, canned fruit, organic superfoods) and wine, for which tariffs have been eliminated.
- Japan is the Guest of Honour Country at this year’s 90th Thessaloniki International Fair (5–13 September 2026), with Japan’s participation built around the “Takumi” philosophy and aimed at further deepening the two countries’ political, economic and business relations.
The event highlighted the significant scope for further development of Greek-Japanese economic relations, both in exports and in investment. The growing presence of Greek products in the Japanese market, Japan’s participation as Guest of Honour Country at the 90th Thessaloniki International Fair, and the systematic strengthening of contacts between institutional and business bodies are creating fertile ground for new partnerships and for making greater use of the opportunities offered by the two markets.