The Madrid Region has travelled to Japan to strengthen economic and trade relations, attract new investment and business projects to the region, reinforce its position as a leading international business destination, and support the international expansion of Madrid-based companies.
The five-day economic mission was led by the Regional Minister for Economy, Finance and Employment, Rocío Albert, together with Luis Socías, CEO of Invest in Madrid.
Japan is the largest Asian investor in Spain, and since 2019 the Madrid Region has attracted 74.4% of all Japanese investment in the country, amounting to more than €2.86 billion. In terms of employment, the region accounts for nearly one in every four jobs created by Japanese companies in Spain. Specifically, it represents 24.6% of the total, equivalent to 13,616 jobs.
The visit included an extensive programme of meetings with institutions, companies and start-ups in the prefectures of Tokyo, Aichi—the country’s industrial powerhouse—and Kyoto, with the aim of further strengthening the region’s economic leadership.
Meetings with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Japan and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) focused on strengthening economic and trade relations between both markets, with particular emphasis on supporting SMEs. These efforts were carried out with the support of the Embassy of Spain in Japan and its Economic and Commercial Office in Tokyo.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of multinational companies with operations in the Madrid Region, as strengthening existing investors’ presence is key to expanding investment in the region. Companies such as NTT DATA, Canon EMEA, Mitsubishi Corporation and EBARA Pumps Iberia S.A.—which recently invested in a new manufacturing facility in Pinto—are excellent examples. Meetings with their global CEOs and senior executives proved highly productive.
Promoting the international success of Madrid-based companies is another of our key priorities. Notable examples include Gestamp, which has corporate, R&D and manufacturing operations in Japan, and MOM Culinary Institute, a hospitality school founded in Madrid that now operates a campus in Tokyo, fostering talent exchange and enhancing Madrid’s international profile through gastronomy.
The mission also served to deepen institutional ties with world-leading regions in economic development, innovation and high value-added industry. In this regard, and within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed with Aichi Prefecture in 2024, the delegation met with the Governor of Aichi and visited STATION Ai—one of Japan’s leading innovation hubs—where they held meetings with local start-ups.
The Regional Government remains committed to strengthening the Madrid Region’s position as one of Europe’s leading business hubs and the premier gateway to Latin America.