Looking back at the Networking Cocktail at the Heart of the France Pavilion

At 12:30 p.m., our networking cocktail officially kicked off the event, in the presence of 14 members of the CCIFJ Board of Directors, representing major companies within the French-Japanese business community, who kindly made themselves available to meet and engage with our other guests.

• Armel CAHIERRE (Mille porte)
• Jean-Pierre CHARRITON (Nihon L’Oréal)
• Jérôme CHOUCHAN (Godiva Japan)
• François-Xavier COLAS (Classic Fine Foods)
• Yoshikazu Yann GAHIER
• Benjamin LAMBERG  (Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank)
• Frédéric LAMOITY (Véolia Japan)
• Davy LE DOUSSAL (TMI Associates) 
• Norbert LEURET (LVMH)
• Emmanuel MARCHAT (Stahl Japan Ltd.)
• Benoit RULLEAU (Kansai Airports)
• Masami TAKAHASHI (Scrum Ventures)
• Nicolas VILLEGER (Tradentry LLC)
• Lionel VINCENT (LPA Registered Foreign Law Corp.)

Beyond networking, two speeches left a strong impression:

First, Jérôme Chouchan, President of Godiva Japan and President of the CCIFJ, who naturally emphasized the strength of French-Japanese cooperation, notably through the Chamber's activities in Japan. He also highlighted the dynamism of the regions and the fundamental importance of the World Expo, as well as the attention it is drawing this year to the Kansai region. 

Then, Norbert Leuret, President of LVMH Japan and Vice-President of the CCIFJ, took the floor. As a representative of one of the Pavilion's main sponsors, he delivered a heartfelt praise of both the building and its contents in bother French and Japanese, reflecting the perosnal investment he has devoted to the project. 

At 1:00 p.m., guided tours of the French Pavilion began promptly in small groups of twenty, each of them lead by a dedicated staff from COFREX, in order to create a more intimate experience. They continued at a steady pace until shortly after 2:00 p.m. Guests were able to appreciate the stunning scenography, created notably with the support of our members LVMH and AXA, while avoiding the usual two-hour wait typically required to visit this very popular pavilion. They discovered a parcours somewhat resembling a museum in form, designed as showcase of French innovation, craftsmanship, and sustainable commitment. The exchanges were rich, questions numerous and enthusiasm palpable. 

The tours then continued throughout the afternoon with a full program of visits. Under a bright sun, groups took turns discovering the best of creativity and vision from our international partners:

• Women’s Pavilion (in collaboration with Cartier): an introduction to the challenges of inclusion and female leadership.
   
• American Pavilion: a blend of soft power and technological achievements.
   
• Swiss Pavilion: precision, sustainability and technological achievements.
   
• German Pavilion: exploration of circularity and industrial innovation.
   
• Monegasque Pavilion: luxury, ecology, and the Mediterranean.

To wrap this up, this busy day, some were able to enjoy a final break at the very cozy wine bar of the Monaco Pavilion, closing the day with a last moment of relaxation and conviviality.

The event is part of the Osaka Expo 2025, a strategic moment for promoting the KAnsai region internationally. It reflects the vitality of our business community and the strong bonds that unite its members. It is also the result of several years of effort, coordination, and determination, led by the Chamber and its partners, to highlight our presence in this key region of Japan. 

We warmly thank all our partners who helps make this event a success, as well as all the participants for their presence and commitment. Your large turnout, curiosity, and involvement give full meaning to our mission.

We look forward to seeing you again very soon at our upcoming events.