PM meets 16 Japan Guvs, calls for deeper state-prefecture ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wrapped up his two-day visit to Japan, calling for stronger state-prefecture partnerships to drive trade, technology and cultural linkages. He later left for China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

Earlier in the day, Modi met 16 Governors from various Japanese prefectures. Stressing that the India-Japan relationship draws vitality from centuries-old civilisational ties, he said the time had come to expand cooperation beyond the capitals of Tokyo and New Delhi.

He urged leaders on both sides to leverage the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative, launched during the 15th annual summit, to foster collaboration in manufacturing, technology, innovation, mobility, infrastructure, startups and small businesses. Modi noted that each Japanese prefecture has unique strengths just as Indian states have diverse capabilities and invited them to actively participate in India’s growth story.

He particularly emphasised youth and skills exchanges that combine Japanese technology with Indian talent.

The Governors, in turn, observed that sub-national cooperation would be key to elevating business, educational, cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Accompanied by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Modi also visited Tokyo Electron Miyagi Ltd (TEL Miyagi), a global leader in semiconductor technology. The two leaders reviewed the company’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain, its advanced manufacturing expertise and ongoing collaborations with India.

The Prime Ministers travelled to Sendai from Tokyo in a bullet train.

The visit highlighted the complementarity between India’s emerging semiconductor ecosystem and Japan’s strengths in advanced chip equipment and technology. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation under the Japan-India Semiconductor Supply Chain Partnership, alongside initiatives like the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership and the Economic Security Dialogue.

Expressing gratitude to Ishiba for accompanying him to Sendai, Modi reiterated India’s readiness to work closely with Japan in building resilient and trusted semiconductor supply chains. Ishiba later hosted a luncheon in Modi’s honour, attended by the Governor of Miyagi Prefecture and other dignitaries.