Japan has long been a partner in India’s economic and technological advancement
India is committed to strengthening the Special Strategic and Global Partnership with Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said.

Interacting with a parliamentary and business delegation from Japan on August 1, 2024, Prime Minister Modi referred to promotion of investments as well as skilling and mobility in this context. The delegation was led by House of Representatives Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga.

"Pleased to meet the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, Mr. Nugaka Fukushiro, accompanying MPs and the business delegation. As two democracies and trusted partners with shared interests, we remain committed to deepening our Special Strategic and Global Partnership, including by promoting parliamentary exchanges, investments, skilling & mobility," Prime Minister Modi posted on social media platform X, formerly Twitter. 

Earlier, the delegation met with India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. The meeting underscored the commitment of both nations to enhance their growing partnership across multiple domains including business, investments, education, and technology.

In a post-meeting statement on X, EAM Jaishankar elaborated on the discussions, highlighting the mutual enthusiasm for deepening collaboration. “Engaging discussion on enhancing India-Japan partnership in business, investments, education, and technology. Expanding contacts in research, manufacturing, and human talent and skill base will advance our cooperation,” he posted.

A critical topic of conversation was the development of trusted, resilient, and reliable supply chains, particularly in the realms of digital and critical emerging technologies. EAM Jaishankar emphasized the shared imperative of both nations to build robust frameworks that could withstand global disruptions, ensuring a steady and secure supply chain for critical sectors.

Earlier in the week, during his visit to Tokyo for the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting, EAM Jaishankar had underscored the importance of increasing Japanese investments in India. "There are 1,400 Japanese businesses operating in India. We would like to see that number grow. And we have an investment target of 5 trillion yen, which is $42 billion by 2027," he remarked at the Japan National Press Club.

He also highlighted the historical significance of Indo-Japanese relations, noting that Japan has long been a partner in India’s economic and technological advancement. "It is not just the example of Japanese progress itself, but it is also reflected in the history of our collaboration," he stated.

The potential for greater economic and technological collaboration was a key focus of the meeting. Jaishankar articulated the benefits of such a partnership, noting that it is in Japan’s interest to support the emergence of resilient supply chains and transparent, trusted digital collaborations.

Furthermore, he stressed that the full potential of India-Japan relations is yet to be realized, particularly given the rapidly changing global landscape. "We believe that both Japan and our relationship will be well served through greater utilization of skilled Indian professionals in the Japanese economy," he said, emphasizing the need for enhanced people-to-people ties and the exchange of skilled labor.