Calling Japan a trusted and long-term partner, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said the state is ready to play a bigger role in strengthening India-Japan economic ties, especially in manufacturing, technology and skilled workforce development.
Speaking at the third India-Japan Conclave in New Delhi, organised by India Today, Saini said Haryana has become a “home away from home” for Japanese companies and stressed that the relationship between the two sides is built not only on investment, but also on trust.
“Today, I have not come here only to talk about investment. I have come to talk about trust — a trust that has been built between Haryana and Japan over the last four decades,” Saini said.
The Haryana Chief Minister said global economies are changing rapidly and countries are now competing not only on incentives, but also on trust, speed, resilience and partnerships.
Saini said Haryana has emerged as the biggest hub for Japanese businesses in India, with around 394 Japanese industries and more than 600 Japanese business establishments currently operating in the state.
He said Japanese companies prefer Haryana because the state understands Japan’s business culture and values, including quality, operational stability, discipline and long-term commitment.
“When you visit places like Gurugram, Manesar, Jhajjar, Bawal and Sonipat, you do not just see industrial clusters, you see India-Japan industrial integration,” he said.
The Chief Minister highlighted Haryana’s infrastructure strengths, saying nearly two-thirds of the state falls within the National Capital Region (NCR), offering strong road, rail and airport connectivity.
He added that the state is developing industrial ecosystems including electronic clusters, EV ecosystems, logistics hubs, food parks and advanced manufacturing zones.
Saini also spoke about a dedicated Japanese industrial township being developed in Jhajjar and said Haryana is moving ahead with plans for another Japanese cluster in Narayangarh.
According to Saini, Haryana is moving beyond “ease of doing business” towards “speed of doing business”.
He said the state’s single-roof clearance system now offers more than 140 digital services, while approval timelines have reduced from nearly 24 days to around 12 days.
“Investors do not only need approvals. They need certainty,” he said.
During an interaction after his speech, Saini addressed concerns often raised by Japanese investors around skilled labour, land availability and infrastructure coordination.
He said Haryana has been working closely with industries to understand workforce needs and is strengthening skill development through ITIs and the Bhagwan Vishwakarma Skill University in Palwal.
“We are asking industries what kind of skilled youth they need so that training can happen accordingly,” he said.
The Chief Minister also outlined Haryana’s ambitions in future-focused sectors such as semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, healthcare technology and green manufacturing.
Saini said the India-Japan relationship goes beyond commercial interests and is rooted in shared values such as trust, discipline and resilience.
He also highlighted cultural links between Haryana and Japan, mentioning exchanges around the International Gita Mahotsav and efforts to promote Japanese language learning in universities and skill centres.
“Haryana is not only seeking investment, it is inviting partnership, for innovation, technology, sustainability and the future,” Saini said.