Viorel Hrebenciuc, definitively sentenced to prison in a corruption file, represented Romania at Expo Osaka 2025. Along with him, two other “heavy names” in politics

At the World Exhibition in Osaka, Japan, it was marked on Thursday the “Romanian Day” through a series of events that highlighted the role of tradition as an essential element in strengthening sustainable development, according to an announcement made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event was also present a delegation of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania with more “heavy names” in the Romanian politics.

• Victor Ponta and Viorel Hrebenciuc did not respond to HotNews calls who wanted to ask about the reasons for Osaka 2025. Neither CCIR responded for an official point of view.

According to images published on Facebook by Tomoyasu Kato, Romania's honorary consul in Osaka, Romania was represented by a delegation of Mihai Daraban (CCIR president), Victor Ponta, Viorel Hrebenciuc and Ovidiu Silaghi. The images were taken over by Cătălin Teniță, a general counselor at the Capital City Hall, who criticized Hrebenciuc's presence in a delegation of Romania.

“In other news, on Romania's Day at Expo Osaka 2025, which took place yesterday, Romania was represented in the official picture and criminal convict Viorel Hrebenciuc. (…) I would have started the disgust … I hope that Mr. Hrebenciuc was on his money, not those of the State”.

Hrebenciuc and Silaghi, politicians with criminal problems

Viorel Hrebenciuc, considered “gray eminence” and one of the most influential PSD leaders for two decades before withdrawing from the foreground of politics as a result of criminal problems. In 2014, the DNA accused of trafficking in influence and illegal retrocessions of forests, when he resigned from the Chamber of Deputies. In this file, he received a sentence of 2 years in prison with execution in the first instance, but he escaped the appeal as the facts were prescribed.

He arrived after the bars in another file, in which in September 2021 he was definitively sentenced to 3 years in prison being accused by DNA of being involved to determine officials from the National Audiovisual Council (CNA) for this institution to return to the decision to withdraw the License of the Giga TV – controlled by the mayor of Piatra Neamt “.

He was released conditionally in July 2022 after executing less than one third of the punishment.

According to the announcement of Consul Kato, he was present at Osaka as a “honorary counselor” in the CCIR delegation.

Ovidiu Silaghi was an influential PNL member, being Minister of SMEs (2007-2008) in the Tariceanu and Minister of Transport (May-December 2012) in the first USL government led by Victor Ponta.

He was investigated by the DNA under the charge that, in 2012, he received 200,000 euros from businessman Nelu Iordache to influence CNADNR decisions related to the termination of contracts and the opening of air routes. The file was subsequently classified by DNA, on the grounds that “the deed does not exist”.

Currently, Silaghi is the Secretary General of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania.

Victor Ponta does not have a position at CCIR, and in the consul's announcement he is presented as a former prime minister of Romania.

CCIR announced the presence at Osaka 2025

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR), in partnership with the Romanian Pavilion within the World Exhibition Osaka 2025, organized, on June 26, the Romania-Japan Business Forum, an event attended by over 80 Romanian companies that operate in different economic sectors, the CCIR transmitted in a statement.

“The business forum, organized in the margin of the celebration of the National Day of Romania at the World Exhibition Osaka 2025, offered an important platform for promoting the Romanian business environment on the Japanese and Asian market, the participating Romanian companies managing to establish direct contacts with the foreign partners, in order to develop some common economic projects”.

What is Osaka 2025

The world exhibition Osaka 2025, Kansai, Japan, organized between April 13 and October 13, 2025, gathers over 160 international participants and has the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives”, which is based on the idea of ​​international collaboration and collective involvement for identifying solutions to the current challenges of humanity.

In the three months since the opening of the exhibition, the pavilion received the visit of over 300,000 visitors.

Between 25 and 28 June 2025, Romania was represented by a delegation led by the President of the Senate, Mircea Abrudean.