New Delhi, June 21: Prime Minister Sane Takaiichi will lead a delegation to India for the annual India-Japan summit next month. Key figures from Japan, including Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, and top executives from Itochu Corporation, will join him. This summit is scheduled to take place in Guwahati, Assam, during the first week of July.
According to a report by Nikkei Asia, the Japanese business delegation will focus on investment opportunities in India, enhancing collaboration between industries, and strengthening supply chains. This will mark PM Takaiichi’s first visit to India since taking office in October 2025.
On June 13, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned that the state is preparing to welcome a “powerful global leader” next month. The upcoming meeting in Guwahati is expected to accelerate cooperation in the semiconductor sector between India and Japan, especially as Assam emerges as a new hub for semiconductor production.
Economic security is a crucial aspect of the India-Japan strategic partnership, encompassing semiconductors, essential minerals, artificial intelligence (AI), new technologies, and information and communication technology.
During the summit, both nations will initiate joint efforts to secure supply chains in critical sectors such as telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, essential minerals, semiconductors, and clean energy. They have also agreed to strengthen their strategic partnership in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, enhance joint military exercises, and collaborate on naval technology.
A part of Japan’s 2023 announced “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” initiative includes creating an industrial corridor connecting the Bay of Bengal to Northeast India. Both governments are now accelerating this plan.
In the 15th annual summit held in Tokyo on August 29-30 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Japanese counterpart Shigeru Ishiba reinforced the “Special Strategic and Global Partnership” between the two countries. They outlined a roadmap for economic, security, and technological cooperation for the next decade.
According to a 2024 survey by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), India remains the most favored investment destination for Japanese companies over the next three years. India received 58.7% of the votes, up from 48.6% in 2023. For the 15th consecutive time, India has been ranked as the most promising country for investment over the next decade, with many companies citing the market’s future growth potential as a key reason for their interest.
Japanese investment in India has surged in recent years. Direct foreign investment (FDI) from Japan reached $1.79 billion in 2022-23 and $3.1 billion in 2023-24. By December 2024, this figure stood at $1.36 billion. Since 2000, Japan’s total investment in India has approached $43.2 billion, making it the fifth-largest investor in the country.
Japanese investments in India primarily focus on sectors such as automobiles, electrical equipment, telecommunications, chemicals, financial services (insurance), and pharmaceuticals.
There are approximately 1,400 registered Japanese companies in India. According to a joint survey by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Japanese Embassy in India, nearly half of these companies are involved in manufacturing. These firms operate around 5,000 business establishments in India, including offices, branches, and local companies.
Additionally, over 100 Indian companies are also operating in Japan.
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