AMN / TOKYO
Indi’s Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has called for a dramatic expansion of commercial ties between New Delhi and Tokyo, urging Japanese enterprises to double their operating presence in India within the decade.
Addressing a high-profile round-table with Keidanren—the apex economic organization representing over 1,500 leading Japanese companies—Shri Goyal emphasized that the bilateral partnership has evolved far beyond conventional trade. Today, the relationship encompasses strategic domains such as economic security, defense, supply-chain resilience, advanced technology, innovation, clean energy, and robust people-to-people exchanges.
The visit marks the launch of India’s largest-ever business delegation to Japan, consisting of over 200 industry representatives spanning manufacturing, semiconductors, clean energy, steel, automotive, financial services, healthcare, and start-ups. Organized jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry alongside major trade bodies including FICCI, CII, and ASSOCHAM, the four-day diplomatic and economic mission spans Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka from August 24 to 27.
The timing coincides with the celebration of 2026 as the “India-Japan Year of Shared Horizons,” commemorating 75 years of formal diplomatic relations.
During a packed itinerary in Tokyo, Shri Goyal held strategic one-on-one meetings with corporate leaders from Sumitomo Corporation, Meiji Seika Pharma, and Mitsubishi Corporation to discuss investment expansion. A core focus of the delegation centers on semiconductor manufacturing and advanced technology. The Minister engaged directly with senior executives from Tokyo Electron and MinebeaMitsumi Inc., which is currently overseeing a major semiconductor plant project in India, highlighting chip production as a critical pillar of future bilateral cooperation.
Beyond high-tech manufacturing, the Commerce Minister participated in a specialized round-table focused on capital goods, machinery, and the automotive sector. Joined by approximately 70 businesses from both nations, discussions centered on integrating Japanese enterprises into India’s growing Tier-II and Tier-III supplier ecosystems, creating new avenues for industrial collaboration, and empowering Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Underscoring the intersection of commerce and national security, Shri Goyal also met with Mr. Ichikawa Keiichi, Secretary General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat, at the Kantei.
Concluding his busy first day with a fireside chat moderated by Nikkei Asia, Shri Goyal detailed India’s rapid economic growth trajectory and technological transformation. The ongoing delegation meetings aim to cement resilient supply chains and build mutually beneficial growth under the framework of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.
The delegation has been constituted jointly by India’s leading industry associations, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and includes representatives nominated by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).