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Heydon to meet EU commissioner for agriculture in Japan

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon is set to meet with European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food, Christophe Hansen in Japan this week. The meeting comes as Minister Heydon is currently leading a major agri-food government trade mission to the Republic of Korea and Japan. The trade mission, in collaboration with Bord Bia, and Enterprise Ireland, runs until Saturday (June 14) and will include political meetings, as well as market development engagement at a series of trade events with commercial representatives. The minister will be present for the Seoul Food, Korea's largest international exhibition for the food, drink, hotel, and food service industry. He will also attend Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan which is expected to attract more than 28 million visitors, with participation by 160 countries. Japan Commissioner Hansen is visiting Japan in a bid 'to strengthen agricultural ties' and showcase the EU agri-food sector at the Osaka World Expo. The visit comes as Japan remains the EU's fifth-largest market for agri-food exports, worth €8.3 billion in 2024. The trading relationship has been underpinned by the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement which is in force since 2019. In Tokyo, Commissioner Hansen will deliver a keynote speech at the EU-Japan Business Forum and will meet with members of Japan's House of Representatives. He will hold a series of meetings, including with Yoichi Watanabe, Vice-Minister for International Affairs; Shinjiro Koizumi, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Hirofumi Takinami, State Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. In Osaka, the commissioner will engage with ambassadors from EU member states. On Thursday (June 12), Commissioner Hansen will deliver a keynote speech at the EU Policy Event at Osaka World Expo 2025. During this speech, he is expected to highlight EU food excellence and the EU's commitment to sustainable and innovative agriculture. Alongside the expo, the commissioner will meet with President of Finland Alexander Stubb, and the Irish and Lithuanian agriculture ministers, Martin Heydon and Ignas Hoffman. Hansen will also have discussions with the State Secretary for Fisheries, Food Security and Nature of The Netherlands, Jean Rummenie.