News source:https://www.facebook.com/IndiaInJapan/
The Embassy of India, Tokyo, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Keidanren, hosted a high-impact roadshow in Tokyo during the official visit of Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Commerce Secretary, Government of India. The event brought together over 150 leading Japanese industry stakeholders, reflecting growing momentum in India–Japan economic engagement.
Strengthening Trade and Investment Dialogue
The roadshow served as a strategic platform to deepen business collaboration and highlight India’s evolving trade and investment landscape. In his inaugural remarks, Deputy Chief of Mission R. Madhu Sudan set the tone by underlining the strong foundations of the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and the shared commitment to advancing economic cooperation.
He emphasized that the visit of the Commerce Secretary comes at a pivotal time, as India continues to implement forward-looking trade policies and structural reforms aimed at enhancing investor confidence and expanding bilateral trade opportunities.
Fireside Chat on India’s Trade Reforms
The centerpiece of the event was an engaging fireside chat between Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Mr. Yamada of Nikkei Asia. The discussion focused on India’s latest trade policy initiatives, manufacturing push, digital transformation, and key reforms undertaken to improve the ease of doing business.
The Commerce Secretary highlighted India’s commitment to simplifying regulatory frameworks, modernizing infrastructure, and facilitating smoother supply chain integration. He also elaborated on the government’s focus on expanding market access, promoting exports, and fostering innovation-driven growth.
The interactive session allowed Japanese business leaders to gain direct insights into India’s policy direction and economic priorities, while also addressing queries related to sectoral opportunities and long-term investment prospects.
India as a Premier Investment Destination
A key presentation was delivered by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), which underscored India’s position as a premier investment destination for Japanese corporations. The presentation highlighted India’s strong economic fundamentals, expanding consumer market, competitive workforce, and robust reform trajectory.
JBIC’s insights reaffirmed the increasing confidence among Japanese investors in India’s growth story and its role as a reliable and strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
Industry Perspectives from Keidanren and Nippon Steel
Adding to the depth of discussion, Mr. Ichiro Sato, Executive Officer of Nippon Steel Corporation and head of policy planning at Keidanren, shared industry perspectives on strengthening bilateral industrial cooperation. He highlighted the importance of policy predictability, technological collaboration, and sustainable industrial practices in enhancing long-term business partnerships.
His remarks reflected the growing alignment between Japanese industry priorities and India’s development agenda, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, green energy, and advanced technologies.
Concluding Note and Strong Participation
The vote of thanks was delivered by Mr. Narayan Sethuraman from CII, who appreciated the active participation and reaffirmed CII’s commitment to facilitating deeper business linkages between the two nations.
With more than 150 prominent Japanese industry representatives in attendance, the roadshow demonstrated the strong interest within Japan’s corporate sector in expanding engagement with India. The event not only reinforced bilateral economic ties but also provided a meaningful platform for dialogue, collaboration, and future investment.
As India and Japan continue to build on shared values and strategic convergence, such initiatives play a crucial role in translating policy vision into tangible economic partnerships.
