Tokyo/Ahmedabad, 24 July 2012

Today was the second day of Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan. Shri Modi interacted with members of the India Center Foundation in Tokyo. The interaction was attended by some leading figures of Japan including members of parliament. The India Center Foundation was set up in 1996 with a vision to ties between India and Japan, a quest in which it has been very active since then.

In his speech, Shri Modi spoke that while the Japanese people have many wonderful traits, one that stood out was their eye for detail before taking any decision. It is after gauging every impact that the Japanese take a decision, he stated. He added that after such a trait if the Japanese had accepted and trusted Gujarat it is indeed a matter of great pride.

Shri Modi recalled the wonderful reception he had received in 2007 by the India Center Foundation and said that he had come in 2007 to sow the seeds of a strong relation with Gujarat and Japan, which has truly happened over these years. He also expressed joy at the welcome he has received in this trip from the people of Japan.

Shri Modi invited all the members present for the 2013 Vibrant Gujarat Summit and said that the summit gives a unique opportunity to interact with the who’s who of Indian industry and to explore opportunities for business. In addition, 100 nations also participate in the biennial summit. “I am waiting for you all in Gujarat” he declared.

At the end of the event, he was given a standing round of ovation from the distinguished members present there.

Modi speaks:

When I visited Japan in 2007, the way the arrangements were made here, and a grand reception granted, the whole team from Gujarat felt it was unprecedented. Whose who of Tokyo was there, and none was left, on that same day I felt that I had sown seeds that would result into a large tree of relations between Gujarat and Japan in future.

-Japanese have made me one of their own.

-Since yesterday morning, I feel extreme shortage of time. It’s like I have no time to breath even. I move from one meeting to another meeting, and have been unable to satisfy the requests of 100s of people here. I do apologize for that. I have to meet some people for ten minutes or so while moving from one floor to another.

-I thank you for the way you welcomed the team Gujarat here, and I wish you will also give me an opportunity to welcome you in Gujarat.

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