Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday met with Japanese Ambassador to India Mr. Ono Keiichi and Japan’s Minister of Economic and Development Ms. Koyoko Hokugo during a courtesy call in Gandhinagar. The meeting marked the culmination of a three-day visit by the Japanese delegation to Gujarat, which included a visit to Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) and an interaction with over 150 leading industrialists and investors in Ahmedabad.

The visit comes as India and Japan celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations. Highlighting the robust partnership, Ambassador Keiichi noted that more than 350 Japanese companies are currently operating in Gujarat and praised the state government’s consistent support for Japanese enterprises.

Chief Minister Patel emphasized Gujarat’s longstanding ties with Japan, describing the state as a “second home” for Japanese industries. “Gujarat hosts two Japanese townships, numerous Japanese restaurants, and offers a highly conducive environment for businesses,” he said.

Referring to the 2017 Indo-Japan Annual Summit held in Gandhinagar in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Chief Minister said all MoUs signed during the summit have successfully materialized.

A major focus of the meeting was on semiconductor industry collaboration. Ambassador Keiichi expressed Japan’s willingness to share its expertise in the sector and underscored the potential of Dholera SIR as a hub for semiconductor manufacturing. He said several Japanese semiconductor companies are keen to invest in Gujarat, provided there is further strengthening of industrial and social infrastructure, along with human resource development.

In response, CM Patel reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to developing the semiconductor ecosystem. “Gujarat gives special priority to the semiconductor sector and is working with a focused approach to ensure world-class infrastructure within a defined timeframe,” he said.

The Ambassador also shared details about an ongoing survey by Japan’s Mizuho Bank and the development of Japan’s Semicon Park in Dholera to help create a robust semiconductor ecosystem.

CM Patel assured full cooperation from relevant departments for the survey and said it would play a crucial role in making Gujarat a leading hub for semiconductor industries.

Additionally, Ambassador Keiichi expressed strong interest in the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing potential in Gujarat and advocated for continued cooperation on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Corridor (Bullet Train project).

He also reiterated Japan’s commitment to further strengthening Japan-India-Gujarat ties through expanded collaboration in trade, industry, and cultural exchanges.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary to the CM M. K. Das, Industries Principal Secretary Mamta Verma, Additional Principal Secretary to the CM Avantika Singh, and Honorary Consul of Japan in Gujarat, Mukesh Patel. DeshGujarat