The Círculo Ecuestre hosted the Japan-Catalonia Conference, a high-level institutional and business event that strengthened ties between the two territories in key areas such as innovation, digitalization, robotics, and culture.
Organized in conjunction with the Círculo Empresarial Japón-España (CEJE) and the Consulate General of Japan in Barcelona, the meeting is part of the Catalonia-Japan Year and has made the club the epicenter of strategic dialogue between East and West.
The opening ceremony was led by the President of the Círculo Ecuestre, Enrique Lacalle, who highlighted the club's commitment to international exchange: "We have always wanted to be a bridge between cultures that promotes business and talent."
The Regional Minister of Business and Employment of the Generalitat (Catalan Government), Miquel Sàmper, officially opened the conference, highlighting the long-standing relationship between Catalonia and Japan and emphasizing the Asian country's role as a strategic partner at a time of great global tariff uncertainty: "Japan, in addition to being a loyal country, is serious and responsible. And that, today, has much more value", he noted.
For his part, the President of the CEJE (Spanish Consular Commission), Jorge Lasheras, highlighted the solidity of Japanese investment in Spain, with more than €2.968 billion between 2019 and 2023, and a clear upward trend.
The Consul General of Japan in Barcelona, Akiko Shikata, advocated for further strengthening cultural and commercial ties between the two territories, with concrete proposals such as the opening of direct flights between Japan and Catalonia.
The event also featured a roundtable discussion on technological innovation, bringing together representatives from leading companies such as Fujifilm, SIRT and NTT DATA, who shared success stories in artificial intelligence, digitalization, and robotics, highlighting the potential for collaboration between the two countries in high-value-added sectors.
Japanese culture in the heart of Barcelona
Starting at 7:00 p.m., the Círculo Ecuestre transformed into a space for Japanese cultural immersion. Attendees enjoyed a traditional sake tasting and attended a taiko performance (Japanese drum), which brought the event to a unique close.
With this initiative, the Círculo Ecuestre not only demonstrated its role as a forum for economic and business reflection, but also as a cultural bridge between diverse societies, consolidating its international and inclusive approach.
The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the event's sponsors: CASIO, Mitsubishi Electric, Otsuka and Nippon Gases, whose commitment has played a key role in the success of this celebration of the twinning relationship between Japan and Catalonia.