Sibos 2012, Osaka

Sibos 2012 will take place in Osaka in the INTEX centre from 29 October to 01 November

With a population of 2,677,803 million people, Osaka is the third largest city in Japan. Benefiting from its strategic location and transportation system accessible by land, sea and river canals, the city has long been a hub for commerce. After 16th century warrior Toyotomi Hideyoshi unified Japan, he chose Osaka as the sight for his castle. Merchants set up around the castle and the city soon grew into a busy economic centre. It was once referred to as “the nation’s kitchen” because it was a trading centre for rice, the first modern futures exchange market in the world.

Today, Greater Osaka or the Kansai economic region (including Kyoto, Kobe and Nara) is an economic powerhouse with factories turning out electronics and high-tech products. The population of the entire region is 23 million and the economic size competes with Australia and Holland. Many large corporations are headquartered in Osaka including Panasonic, Sharp and Sanyo. Osaka Securities Exchange is based there as well, with plans to merge with the Tokyo Stock Exchange in January 2013 to create the world's third-largest bourse with listed stocks worth around $3.6 trillion. Reputationally, Osaka is known for its innovation, open-mindedness and enterprising spirit.

INTEX Osaka, one of the largest exhibition centres in Japan, is located just 30 minutes from the city centre and approximately 50 minutes from Osaka International Airport.

For visitor information:

www.osaka-info.jp/en/