India-Japan partnership is strategic and smart: PM Modi at business forum in Tokyo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called India’s partnership with Japan both “strategic and smart”, underlining that the two nations were turning shared interests into shared prosperity while working towards shaping the “Asian Century”.

Addressing business leaders at the India-Japan Business Forum in Tokyo, Modi said Japan had always been an important partner in India’s development journey, citing cooperation ranging from Metro projects and semiconductors to manufacturing and start-ups.

“Japanese companies have invested more than $40 billion in India. In just the last two years, private investment of $13 billion has come in. Capital in India does not just grow, it multiplies,” he said.

The Prime Minister underlined India’s transformation over the past 11 years, pointing to political and economic stability, transparency in policies and predictability for investors. “Today, India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world and soon it is going to become the third largest. India is contributing 18 per cent to global growth,” he said, highlighting strong forex reserves of $700 billion, low inflation and robust capital markets.

Modi said the government’s “reform, perform and transform” approach had delivered results, from the GST rollout to the recently approved simplified Income Tax Code. He added that sensitive sectors like defence, space and nuclear energy were being opened for private participation. “The world is not just watching India, it is counting on India,” he remarked.

Laying out a roadmap for the future of bilateral ties, Modi suggested five key areas of cooperation—manufacturing, technology and innovation, green energy transition, next-generation infrastructure and skill development.

In manufacturing, he said the India-Japan success in the auto sector could be replicated in batteries, robotics, ship-building and nuclear energy. He urged Japanese companies to “Make in India, make for the world,” citing the success stories of Suzuki and Daikin.

On technology, Modi described Japan as a “tech powerhouse” and India as a “talent powerhouse,” asserting that collaboration in AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotech and space could drive a 21^st-century tech revolution.

He also pitched for deeper collaboration in green energy. “India is moving towards 500 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030 and 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047. Solar, green hydrogen—there are immense possibilities,” he said, noting a new agreement on the Joint Credit Mechanism for building a clean, green future.

Highlighting next-generation infrastructure, Modi said India’s ports had doubled capacity, the country now had 160 airports and a 1,000 km metro network, while the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project exemplified cooperation with Japan.

On skill development, Modi said India’s youth could serve global needs and called for preparing a “Japan-ready” workforce by training Indian talent in Japanese language and soft skills. “A shared workforce will lead to shared prosperity,” he added.

Concluding his address with “Arigatou Gozaimasu”, Modi said India was a springboard for Japanese businesses to the Global South. “Together, we will shape the Asian Century—with stability, growth and prosperity,” he added.