Greater Manchester strengthens ties with Japanese city of Osaka

Greater Manchester is set to build on economic ties with the Japanese city of Osaka following a visit from delegates from the city between 16th and 19th January.

The visit was organised by MIDAS, Greater Manchester’s investment agency, alongside GMCA and the Greater Manchester-Japan Steering Group and sought to build on opportunities for partnership on net-zero initiatives ahead of Osaka’s hosting of the Expo 25 in two year’s time. The visit to Greater Manchester follows a trip to Osaka by Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Low Carbon team, MIDAS, Manchester Metropolitan University and business leaders in October 2022.

The Japanese delegation visited several key sites around the city-region that are leading the way in low carbon innovations, including University of Salford’s Energy House Labs, the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre at MMU, the Growth Company’s Green Skills Academy in Trafford, the Museum of Science and Industry and The University of Manchester.

Following the trip, it is hoped that greater connections can be forged between Japanese firms and the city-region’s decarbonisation initiatives, the Energy Innovation Agency and Innovation GM, attracting greater investment from one of the world’s largest metropolises. Osaka is a key commercial and industrial centre in Japan, and sits at the centre of a metropolitan area that is home to 19 million people and boasts an annual GDP exceeding that or Greater London.

Rachel Eyre, Head of Advanced Manufacturing and Low Carbon at MIDAS said:

“Greater Manchester is already home to successful Japanese energy companies including Kansai Electric Power Company and Exergy Power Systems and we have the expertise and ambition to work with many more on the journey to a sustainable future.

“The opportunities for forward-thinking innovators to discover, develop and deploy new technologies across transport, energy, retrofitting are endless.”

Jo Ahmed, Partner at Deloitte and Honorary Consul of Japan in Manchester said:

“It was a privilege to welcome the delegation from Osaka to Greater Manchester. By bridging the gap, celebrating culture and agreeing new areas of cooperation, we are positive that our new shared bonds will result in a positive impact for people and places in both city regions”