Japanese Diplomat Confident in Strengthening Ties with India Under New Leadership

Japanese Consul General Nakagawi Koichi expressed confidence in the continued strengthening of India-Japan relations under Japan's new Prime Minister. At a Calcutta Chamber of Commerce event, Koichi highlighted key infrastructure projects and economic ties, noting the importance of sectors like AI, EVs, and green energy.

A Japanese diplomat on Wednesday expressed confidence that India's relationship with Japan will continue to strengthen under the new Prime Minister of Japan.

Speaking at an interaction with the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce, Consul General of Japan Nakagawi Koichi noted the significant growth in the bilateral relationship over the years. He expects the new Japanese Prime Minister to maintain this momentum.

Japan is set to elect a new Prime Minister on September 27. The diplomat hoped for a visit from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Japan in the near future, following Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio's visit to India in March 2023. Although no specific timeline has been set, officials anticipate the visit to take place in 2024.

Koichi highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in the India-Japan partnership, particularly mentioning the high-speed railway project. He also pointed to areas like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and green energy as key sectors for future cooperation.

He mentioned that around 1,400 Japanese companies operate in India, with about 25 headquartered in West Bengal and two each in Jharkhand and Odisha. Koichi also expressed Japan's interest in addressing congestion at the Petrapole Land Customs Checkpost, which is the largest land trade and passenger border between India and Bangladesh. While no specific projects have been identified, he indicated that Japan is open to discussing potential solutions. Bilateral trade between India and Japan was USD 22.85 billion in 2023-24.

(With inputs from agencies.)