Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on his first standalone visit to Japan in nearly seven years, asserted in Tokyo that the world is not only observing India’s rise but also counting on it. Addressing the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum with the greeting “Namaste, Konnichiwa, Japan,” PM Modi highlighted Japan’s role as a trusted partner in India’s development journey—from metro projects to semiconductor manufacturing and startups—pointing out Japanese investments worth over 40 billion USD in India.
Underscoring India’s appeal as a promising and stable investment hub, PM Modi noted that capital in India does not merely grow, it multiplies. He stressed that India enjoys political stability, economic predictability, and transparency in governance, making it the fastest-growing major economy, soon on course to become the third-largest in the world. Expanding on reforms, he announced that India is opening up its nuclear energy sector to private players, after already unlocking opportunities in defense and space.
Indian envoy to Japan, Sibi George, underlined that the Modi-Ishiba summit would not be limited to MoUs, but address wider geopolitical and geo-economic issues, including the Indo-Pacific framework and Quad cooperation—critical in the backdrop of US-China trade tensions.
PM Modi’s visit also carries cultural and strategic dimensions. His itinerary includes business meetings with corporate leaders of both nations, interactions with Japanese dignitaries, a spiritual visit to Zen Buddhist temple Shorinzan-Daruma-Ji, and participation in the India-Japan Annual Summit. Discussions are expected to expand collaboration in advanced technologies like AI, semiconductors, and high-speed rail, including the E10 next-generation Shinkansen project in India.
