Greater Manchester Japan Mission 2025: day three

The third day of Greater Manchester’s landmark mission to Japan saw the delegation meet with political and business leaders in Osaka, building on the long-standing and unique relationship between our two cities and pave the way for a new chapter of engagement.

Strengthening ties with Osaka

Mayor Burnham, Cllr Craig and members of the delegation arrive at Osaka City Hall

Victoria Braddock (Marketing Manchester) and Joe Manning (MIDAS) outside Osaka City Hall

Starting a busy day of engagement, the delegation headed to Osaka City Hall to meet with Mayor Yokoyama and to build on the special relationship between Greater Manchester and the City of Osaka.

Five years ago, both cities agreed to collaborate on low carbon initiatives and since then, a blossoming friendship has formed connecting universities, businesses, and cultural institutions with hugely successful results.

During this meeting, Mayor Burnham and Mayor Yokoyama signed a Declaration of Agreement for Manchester and Osaka to become sister cities and outlined the steps that should be taken to achieve this milestone.

Mayor Andy Burnham and members of the delegation read the Declaration of Agreement for Manchester and Osaka to become sister cities

Mayor Andy Burnham and Mayor Yokoyama sign the Declaration of Agreement

Mayor Andy Burnham with Mayor Yokoyama of Osaka

Sister cities are highly regarded in Japan and if successful, this will be the first partnership that Osaka has signed in the last two decades. Becoming sister cities will broaden the relationship between Osaka and Manchester beyond the low-carbon sector allowing us to explore further areas for collaboration.

OCCI MOU signing

A statue of Godai Tomoatsu, founder of Osaka Chamber of Commerce and one of the famous Satsuma students that travelled to Greater Manchester in 1865

The delegation then moved onto the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) to discuss economic links between Greater Manchester and Osaka.

This meeting aimed to expand on over 200 years of shared commercial and educational links, with the historic signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the OCCI and MIDAS to improve the lives of people who live in both cities, support the economies in both places, and encourage innovation.

Cllr Craig with Shingo Torii, Chairperson of Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the signed Declaration of Agreement

The agreement was signed by Cllr Craig and will encourage business exchange, trade, investment, and innovation cooperation between the two bodies: replicating our historic relations during the industrial revolution.

Greater Manchester-Osaka business event

Cllr Craig addresses the room at the Manchester-Osaka business event

Then it was time for a business event organised by OCCI and Osaka City Government to celebrate our links.

Greater Manchester’s trade delegation was in attendance to network and forge links with likeminded businesses in Osaka, while MIDAS presented Greater Manchester’s key strengths and a panel of businesses discussed further opportunities for collaboration.

The panel included Dr Clara Cheung, University of Manchester, Robert Knowles, Sealip/Vespiro, Rachel McCrystal, Daikin and Toshiya Nakatani, REVO Energy.

Across the wider delegation

Robert Knowles (Vesipro) and Masataka Yamakawa (Landing Japan) show their newly signed agreement

Before, during, and after activities with Osaka City and Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, several meetings and activities took place across the wider delegation:

Co-operatives UK visited Kobe to see a replica of Toad Lane in Rochdale – the birthplace of the Co-operative movement;
Vesipro, headquartered in Rochdale, signed an agreement with Landing Japan as they advance plans to open an office in Osaka – building on momentum from their participation in our December 2023 mission after 18 months of sustained growth in the Japanese market.

Meeting with Panasonic

Hydrogen Fuel Cell at the Panasonic Pavilion at EXPO

Mayor Burnham and Cllr Craig then returned to EXPO 2025 to meet with Panasonic at their pavilion. Panasonic are another key sponsor of this mission to Japan and recently signed an MOU to support Greater Manchester’s hydrogen-led ambitions.

Mayor Burnham and Jo Ahmed MBE with key members of Panasonic including Mr. Masahiro Shinada, Chief Executive Officer, Panasonic Corporation and Mr Mitsutoshi Shigeta, Managing Executive Officer, Panasonic Corporation

The meeting noted the successful progress since the previous Greater Manchester visit to Osaka in 2023 when the MOU was signed. It also gave leaders a chance to learn more about the Panasonic HX solution and discuss opportunities for deployment across Greater Manchester.

Osaka evening reception

Finally, the day ended with an evening reception hosted by the City of Osaka to celebrate the Greater Manchester delegation.

Speakers from both Osaka and Greater Manchester remarked on the historic links, blossoming relationship between the two regions, and how our unique relationship is creating opportunities on both sides of the world.