Spain kicks off its three-day exposition "ExpoConsumo '98" today in Tokyo as it seeks out more business opportunities and tourists from Japan.
"Spain, the world's eighth-largest economy last year in terms of GDP (gross domestic product), has heavily invested in Latin America. Now we want Japanese people to know more about our country as well as our (consumer) products," Spanish Vice President Rodrigo Rato said in a news conference Monday in Tokyo.
ExpoConsumo '98 is being held at Tokyo Big Sight in the waterfront area and features more than 300 Spanish companies and organizations. Firms dealing in Spanish fashion brands, home textiles and tourism will be showing their wares and services to potential Japanese business partners.
According to Rato, Spain's budget deficit last year as a percentage of GDP was held to 2.6 percent, far below the 3 percent level allowed by the European Union, and is expected to be trimmed down to 2.4 percent this year.