Japan's Lower House visits the Port of Bilbao to strengthen trade and sustainability ties

A delegation from the Lower House of Japan has visited the Port of Bilbao in an effort to strengthen business ties and learn about their sustainability initiatives and maritime tourism management. The meeting, which took place at the cruise terminal Olatua in Getxo, was attended by senior Japanese officials and deputies, as well as representatives of the Japanese Embassy in Spain.

The visit, led by the directors of the Commission for Territory, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Takashi Kii and Hiroyuki Moriyama, and the member of the commission Kiichiro Hatoyama, was received by Andima Ormaetxe, Director of Operations, Sales and Logistics of the Port Authority of Bilbao.

Focus on decarbonization and tourism

During the meeting, the Japanese representatives showed great interest in the port's projects to reduce its carbon footprint. Highlighted initiatives include the development of green and digital maritime corridors, agreements with the ports of Amsterdam y Duisburg for a renewable hydrogen corridor, and the BilbOPS project. The latter, partly funded by the Connecting Europe Facility and the European Investment Bank, will allow ships to be electrified while in port starting in 2027, significantly reducing emissions and noise. This project is expected to reduce the port's CO2 emissions by 38.8%, equivalent to 9,062 tons.

In 2024, 10.219 tons were exported from the Port of Bilbao to Japan.

In addition to sustainable initiatives, the delegation was interested in the management of cruise tourism, a growing sector for the Port of BilbaoThe Getxo cruise terminal, considered one of the most advanced in Europe, attracted more than 150,000 tourists in 2024, including 283 Japanese visitors. These numbers are expected to increase in 2025, underscoring Bilbao's appeal as a gateway to the region for international tourism.

A trade bridge between Japan and the Basque Country

The visit comes at a time of global trade tensions and aims to open new market opportunities and strengthen relations between companies from Japan and the Basque Country. The Port of Bilbao plays a crucial role in this exchange.

In 2024, the port exported over 10,000 tons of goods to Japan, primarily "Other Goods" and "Other Metallurgical Products." Imports from Japan, meanwhile, exceeded 157,000 tons, led by iron and steel products. The visit of the Japanese delegation is a strategic step to boost these trade exchanges and explore new avenues for future collaboration.