Gujarat Chief Minister with Aichi Governor at Nagoya

Ahmedabad, 26 July 2012

On the fourth day of his official visit to Japan, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by a delegation of top industrialists and business from Gujarat, today expressed his resolve to take the relations between Gujarat and Japan to greater heights, lending renewed strength to Asian economy.

Mr. Modi traveled by a Bullet Train from Hamamatsu to Nagoya to address an Investment Seminar organized by Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) at Nagoya, then he took another Bullet Train to Osaka to attend a Roundtable Conference organized by Mizuho Corporation Bank at Osaka, and then departed by road to Kobe to a reception by Indians and Gujaratis, before retiring for the day.

Responding to unprecedented welcome received by a foreign dignitary wherever he went, he exuded confidence the bond developed between Gujarat and Japan during this visit would force the world realize and recognize the new found economic potentials.

Speaking at the JETRO Seminar at Osaka, attended by top brass of about 100 companies, Mr. Modi said the bond between Gujarat and Japan has become firmer during the last five years. It is a bond between a progressive and prosperous country of the world like Japan and one of the most progressive states of India.

He said that Japan would feel at home in Gujarat due the Gujarat Government’s transparent policies, Proactive Pro-people Good Governance (P2G2), skilled and peaceful manpower, environmentally-friendly and similarities in culture. It is one state in India which has set new benchmarks in agriculture, industry and infrastructure. The bulk of land in ongoing Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, being implemented in collaboration with Japan, falls in Gujarat.

Mr. Modi said that Japan will feel at home in Gujarat and might compel Japan to rethink its bonding with rest of Indis. This land of Gujarat guarantees prosperity. He said that he is immensely lucky to be able to attend 44 functions in five provinces, meeting seven ministers and over 2,000 with key personnel during the four-day stay in Japan.

Osaka: Roundtable conference with top finance/banking firms of Japan

A roundtable conference of Japan’s top 16 finance and banking companies with the Chief Minister was organized today in Osaka by Mizuho Corporate Bank.

In the two-hour conference, top honcho’s of Japanese companies held one-to-one meet. Like Gujarat, Osaka is also leading in textile sector. Chief Minister apprise the Japanese companies about Gujarat’s new vibrant textile policy and the textile park policy which is based on five ‘f’ formula of Farm-Fiber-Fabric-Fashion-Foreign, and invited them to benefit from these policies.

Comparing his Japan visit of 2012 with that of 2007, Chief Minister said that in 2007 people used to asked ‘Why Gujarat’, whereas today Japan asks ‘Why not Gujarat’. One or other delegation from Japanese companies visits Gujarat every week to discuss about its new project in the State. Japan has become partner country in Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit for three times which is self-evident to the relationship between Japan and Gujarat which has touched the newer dimensions.

Chief Minister said that Japanese companies might even like to go for fixing parameters based on which they can give ranking to various states of India and make an unbiased comparison between them. Gujarat is capable of meeting all the parameters. All the facilities needed to set up a business in this competitive age are available in Gujarat, said Chief Minister.

Toyota delegation meets Chief Minister, showed interest in Gujarat

A delegation of Japan’s renowned carmaker Toyota today met Chief Minister in Nagoya. Toyota’s advisor, Dato Akira Okabe, and General Manager, Makota Sasagura, gave details of the company’s operational plant in India and its future expansion plans. Chief Minister talked about how Gujarat is emerging as an auto-hub of Asia. The delegation showed Toyota’s interest in Gujarat.

A delegation of Japan’s Kowaca company, which is a business partner of Gujarat’s Adani group, made a representation before the Chief Minister for setting up of an advance general medical centre in Gujarat.

Narendra Modi is the future of India, says Governor of Aichi province

In a programme organized by Mr. Hideaki Ohmura, Governor of Aichi Prefecture province in Nagoya, to welcome Gujarat Chief Minister. Mr. Ohmura described Mr. Modi as the future of India. Mr. Ohmura specially came from Hong Kong to meet Mr. Modi even though he was not keeping well. He said that there are many similarities between Aichi and Gujarat. Both the leaders discussed about using their respective strengths and developing relationships between both the regions.

Late in the afternoon, Chief Minister and the accompanying delegation reached to Osaka journeying in the bullet train, where the roundtable conference with finance and banking companies of Japan was held.

In the evening Indian Gujarati community organized a programme to welcome the Chief Minister. On Friday, Chief Minister and the delegation will visit Kobe port.