GUWAHATI, Feb 7: Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremoniously inaugurated the fifth edition of the India-Japan Intellectual Conclave titled ‘Kizuna’: Co-creating Ecosystems for change: Technology, Education and Logistics here in Guwahati on Thursday (Feb 6).
The two-day conclave, organized by Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of External Affairs, has brought experts, policymakers and stakeholders from India and Japan.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Sarma said, “This conclave marks a milestone in our collaborative journey, fostering a holistic discourse that integrates key sectors such as semiconductors, education and logistics. I commend the efforts of Asian Confluence, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in India and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for curating this dialogue with such focus and impact”.
He said that the conclave would spotlight on collaboration of projects between India and Japan in North East India, highlighting the opportunities and addressing challenges.
The Chief Minister also said that India and Japan share an enduring bond that dates back to 552 CE, when Japan first embraced India’s spiritual and cultural essence through Buddhism. This connection instilled ideals of wisdom, compassion and enlightenment in Japanese society, making Buddhism a cornerstone of the friendship between India and Japan.
Dr Sarma also said that the deep-rooted historical and cultural ties continue to inspire and strengthen the Indo-Japan relationship. Today, vibrant people-to-people exchanges are evident, with over 40,000 Indians residing in Japan and more than 15,000 Japanese making India their home. Japan remains one of India’s key trade partners, with bilateral trade reaching $22.9 billion in 2023.
Additionally, the presence of approximately 1,500 Japanese companies in India further reinforces the growing economic partnership and shared commitment to prosperity, Dr Sarma added.
Referring to his recent visit to Japan, the Chief Minister said that during the visit, he
engaged with prominent Japanese organizations to explore investment opportunities in Assam. Meetings with key Japanese ministers, a visit to Micron Memory Fab and interactions with leading
universities further helped identifying areas for future collaboration. Moreover, speaking on the burgeoning potential of collaborations between Assam and Japan, the Chief Minister said that people to people contact, business collaborations among tourism operators, startup companies can go a long way in enhancing mutual interests.
He, however, said that considering the scope SMEs, the need of the hour is to create an infrastructure of human networks to support SMEs in Japan to interact with the region.
The Chief Minister also said that the potential for Assam-Japan collaboration remains vast yet largely untapped. He, therefore said that it is the time to unlock this opportunity and forge deeper ties. Assam possesses several core strengths that can drive meaningful cooperation between the two regions. Besides its locational advantage, Assam is also endowed with potentials like green energy, tourism, natural resources, renewable energy, information technology, infrastructure, ease of doing business etc which can play a crucial role in driving the mutual growth of Assam and Japan.
Dr Sarma during his speech also sought partnerships with Japan in electronics, precision engineering and green technologies, with a strong focus on renewable energy, electric vehicles and sustainable innovations.
Thanking the organizer, the Chief Minister expressed happiness that the conclave is being held on the theme Co-Creating Ecosystems for Change will act as force-multiplier for the development of Assam and other North Eastern states. He also said that in the light of the ongoing project of setting up a semiconductor assembly plant at Jagiroad, there is huge potential for an ecosystem of services around the semiconductor assembly and design industry. In this context, the Chief Minister said that Indian and Japanese industry can collaborate to build a strong ecosystem, which can tap the potential of semiconductor sector in the region.
The Chief Minister on the occasion also invited Japanese investors, industrialists to Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Secretary East MEA Joydeep Majumdar, Ambassador of Japan to India ONO Keiichi, Chief Secretary Dr Ravi Kota, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr KK Dwivedi, Chairman Governing Council Asian Confluence MP Bezbaruah and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
