Financial Constraints Threaten Argentina’s Participation in 2025 World Expo: Will It Withdraw from Osaka?

Argentina is facing the possibility of withdrawing from the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka due to difficulties securing funding for the construction of its pavilion. President Javier Milei has implemented measures to address the country’s high inflation and cut government spending since taking office in December. The original plan was for Argentina to build a Type A pavilion, where each participating country designs and constructs its own installation. However, facing financial constraints, negotiations with Argentina have stalled due to the country’s financial challenges.

As construction material costs rise and Japan’s construction sector faces a labor shortage, only 53 out of the initial 60 countries have managed to secure contractors for their Type A pavilions as of May 23. This has led to a decrease in the number of countries planning to build Type A pavilions. The World Expo, scheduled to take place from April 13 to Oct. 13, 2025, on Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, will focus on the theme of “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.”

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition has suggested shifting to more cost-effective options like the Type C or Type X pavilions. Negotiations with Argentina have been ongoing since then but it is still uncertain if they will be able to secure funding and build a pavilion at all. If they do decide not to participate, it would make them the fourth country after Mexico, Estonia and Russia