Japan laid out an ambitious roadmap for deeper strategic and economic engagement with India at the third India-Japan Conclave in New Delhi on Thursday, positioning India at the centre of Tokyo’s updated Indo-Pacific strategy and future industrial partnerships.
Speaking at the conclave organised by the India Today Group, Japan’s Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, said the priorities of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration closely align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the Indo-Pacific, making India and Japan “natural and complementary partners”.
The Japanese envoy outlined Tokyo’s updated Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) framework, which focuses on resilient supply chains, technological collaboration, economic security and regional stability amid growing geopolitical tensions and rapid technological disruption.
He said Japan would prioritise investments in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technology, biotech and advanced manufacturing, while also strengthening cooperation with strategic partners such as India, Australia, ASEAN nations and Europe.
As part of the expanding economic partnership, India and Japan have agreed on a fresh target of 10 trillion yen — approximately $68 billion — in new private Japanese investment into India, nearly double the earlier goal. According to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), India has remained the most preferred investment destination for Japanese companies for four consecutive years.
The envoy said Japanese companies were particularly interested in India’s semiconductor push, including projects in Dholera, Gujarat, and Jagiroad, Assam, as New Delhi attempts to build a domestic chip manufacturing ecosystem.
The speech also highlighted growing cooperation under the India-Japan Economic Security Initiative, covering semiconductors, critical minerals, information technology, clean energy and pharmaceuticals. Earlier this month, Japan’s economic security minister signed agreements with Indian counterparts to expand cooperation in quantum science and artificial intelligence.
On the strategic front, Ono said defence ties between the two countries were deepening through joint military exercises such as Dharma Guardian, JIMEX and Veer Guardian, while discussions on defence equipment and technology cooperation were also progressing.
Japan also unveiled the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience Asia (PAWR Asia), a regional initiative aimed at protecting energy supply chains in Asia amid ongoing global instability. The framework includes $10 billion in Japanese financial cooperation for emergency response systems, crude oil reserves and diversification of energy sources.
The ambassador also stressed the growing importance of the Quad grouping involving India, Japan, the US and Australia. He said the upcoming Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Delhi next week would focus on maritime security, emerging technologies, economic resilience and humanitarian cooperation.
People-to-people ties emerged as another major pillar of the partnership. Both countries are targeting exchanges involving more than 500,000 people over five years, including skilled Indian professionals moving to Japan to support its labour and technology sectors.
Ono also pointed to growing state-level engagement, citing recent outreach efforts by Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in Japan to attract investment and industrial partnerships.
The envoy said 2027, which marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan, would provide an opportunity to further deepen what both countries describe as a “special strategic and global partnership”.