Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for enhanced India-Japan collaboration to establish a robust semiconductor ecosystem in the state, citing the planned assembly plant at Jagiroad as a strategic opportunity.
Speaking at the fifth India-Japan Intellectual Conclave, inaugurated in Guwahati on Thursday, February 6, Sarma urged Japanese industries to explore the potential of the semiconductor sector in Assam.
“Indian and Japanese industry can collaborate to build a strong ecosystem, which can tap the potential of the semiconductor sector in the region,” he stated.
The two-day conclave, titled Kizuna: Co-creating Ecosystems for Change, aims to strengthen technological and economic ties between India and Japan.
Organised by Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Japanese Embassy and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the event has brought together policymakers and industry experts to explore cooperation in technology, education, and logistics.
The Chief Minister highlighted the state's core advantages, including green energy, information technology, and tourism, as key sectors for Japanese investment.
Drawing from his recent visit to Japan, where he toured the Micron Memory Fab facility, Sarma said, “Assam possesses several core strengths that can drive meaningful cooperation between the two regions.”
Sarma also pointed at Assam's intention to foster deeper industrial ties with Japan.
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On social media, he shared details of his discussions with Japan’s Ambassador to India, ONO Keiichi, and a delegation of Japanese business leaders.
"I reiterated our intention to set up a Japanese Industrial Park in Assam and explore short-term opportunities for our skilled workforce in Japan," he noted.
Japan's Ambassador ONO Keiichi and a delegation of officials visited the semiconductor project site at Jagiroad earlier in the day, underscoring Japan’s interest in Assam's technological development.
Bilateral trade between India and Japan reached $22.9 billion in 2023, with approximately 1,500 Japanese companies operating in India.
Sarma emphasised the deep cultural ties between the two nations, mentioning that over 40,000 Indians currently reside in Japan, while more than 15,000 Japanese nationals have made India their home.
The Chief Minister extended an invitation to Japanese investors to participate in the forthcoming Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Also read: NE's rail network now larger than Sri Lanka's: Assam CM Sarma
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