India-Japan Partnership Strengthens: The strategic partnership between India and Japan continues to deepen, with strong ties in democracy, culture, and economic cooperation. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, highlighted Japan’s vital role in India’s economic growth at the India-Japan Economy and Investment Forum, noting that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from Japan has surpassed $43 billion between 2000 and 2024, making it India’s fifth-largest investor.
Shri Goyal emphasized that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) of 2011 has significantly boosted bilateral trade, with over 1,400 Japanese companies operating in India and 11 industrial townships across eight states hosting Japanese enterprises. He also highlighted major joint infrastructure projects, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (Shinkansen bullet train) and metro systems in multiple cities.
The Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative for strengthening India\’s manufacturing sector, with Japanese companies playing a key role. India aims to increase manufacturing’s contribution to 25% of GDP, citing Maruti’s vehicle exports to Japan as a successful collaboration example.
Shri Goyal outlined five key drivers of India’s economic growth—decisive leadership, demographic dividend, democracy, diversity, and demand—stating that these factors make India a top global investment destination. He also stressed India\’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business, fostering innovation, and enhancing infrastructure development.
Acknowledging Japan as a benchmark for quality, the Minister encouraged Indian manufacturers to adopt Kaizen (continuous improvement) and Lean Six Sigma principles to enhance efficiency and global competitiveness. He further invited Japanese investments in green energy, renewable energy, semiconductors, electronic goods, and artificial intelligence, emphasizing that digital technologies will drive India’s future economic growth.
Quoting Prime Minister Modi, Shri Goyal concluded, “Today’s India inspires confidence in the world.” He reiterated that with its young, skilled workforce and business-friendly environment, India is both a prime investment hub and a key global supplier.
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