Scottish companies in the creative industries, life sciences and offshore wind will showcase their skills at Expo 2025 in Japan this year where they will meet potential buyers, investors and advisers.

The Scottish delegation visiting Osaka is jointly funded by the government and the private sector and follows a successful attendance at Expo 2020 in Dubai, which generated forecast sales of almost £90 million for participating Scottish businesses.

Games companies will be the focus of the creative industries day on 17 April, including eight being supported through the Scottish Government’s Techscaler business accelerator which will also go to Tokyo.

KeelWorks, an Edinburgh games development company, will be among the firms making the trip. It has a deal with Japanese publisher Konami and will be looking to promote its game, Cygni: All Guns Blazing.

Chief executive Meher Kalenderian, originally from Lebanon, said the visit to Japan is about “strengthening connections, driving investment and opening new doors for collaboration.” He said the support of the Scottish government was important in “making it happen”.

He added: “It enables us to get to these events, make connections with publishers and investors.”

Business Minister Richard Lochhead visited the company’s studio in Rutland Square to launch the Expo programme and hear about its export success.

Mr Lochhead will be one of a number of Scottish ministers who will be attending Expo 2025 which takes place from 13 April to 13 October. It is expected to attract about 28 million visitors and more than 150 participating countries. Scotland’s three events are supported by Scottish Enterprise.

He said: “This is an opportunity for Scotland to showcase and shine on the global stage. The games sector in Scotland is phenomenal and has massive potential to grow further.”

He added: “Scotland has a great story to tell but we don’t tell it enough”. An industry-led games strategy is is due to be published.

There are 484 companies in the Scottish gaming sector, including Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar North, and 15,000 in the broader creative industries which embraces animation, digital design, audio engineering, music production, as well as games development.

Scotland and Japan are also creating strong ties in the renewables sector which will also feature at Expo 2025. Sumitomo is building a subsea cable factory at Nigg in the Highlands.

Scotland’s first Trade Envoy to Japan was appointed in October 2024. The unpaid role will last for an initial two-year period.