Guwahati: A significant diplomatic push is underway in Assam as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomes a high-profile Japanese delegation, led by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nukaga Fukushiro, with the primary objective of securing substantial Japanese investments.
This visit marks the fourth such high-level engagement since February, signaling a strengthening partnership between Assam and Japan.
Chief Minister Sarma, reflecting on his February visit to Japan where he extended a personal invitation to Speaker Fukushiro, highlighted the positive momentum. “During my visit to Japan in February, I met the Speaker, who had hosted me for dinner at his house, and I then invited him to Assam. He has now come here with a more than 50-member delegation,” Sarma told reporters following a tour of the upcoming Tata semiconductor unit with the foreign delegates.
The Japanese delegation’s three-day visit, which commenced on Saturday, included extensive discussions with Chief Minister Sarma, a dinner hosted by the Governor and the Speaker of the Assam Assembly, and visits to key developmental sites. “I will be hosting the honourable Speaker for dinner at my residence tonight,” Sarma confirmed, emphasizing the personal touch in these diplomatic exchanges.
The frequent visits, including two by the Japanese ambassador to India, an industry delegation for the Advantage Assam business summit, and a team of intellectuals, reflect a growing confidence in Assam’s potential. “In the meantime, Japan has withdrawn its travel advisory against Assam. I have been told by their embassy people that so many delegations coming here over a short period is a positive sign,” Sarma stated.
The delegation’s itinerary also included visits to a Japan-assisted skill training center and IIT Guwahati, where they explored cutting-edge research facilities. At IIT Guwahati, the delegation toured the Centre for Nanotechnology, the Technology Incubation Centre, and the Research Park, witnessing advancements in nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, and healthcare technologies. Speaker Fukushiro emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in emerging technologies and human resource development, calling for deeper cooperation through research, education, cultural exchange, and innovation-driven partnerships.
The delegation comprised four members of Parliament, the former Japanese ambassador to India, senior officials from the Government of Japan, and representatives from the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, alongside 22 industry delegates. Professor Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati, presented the institute’s vision and achievements, while discussions focused on strengthening existing collaborations and aligning future efforts with the goal of increasing Indo-Japan student and research exchanges to 50,000.
Chief Minister Sarma expressed optimism about the future of this partnership. “This time, we are looking for investment and hopefully the ice will melt soon,” he concluded, underscoring the state’s ambition to attract significant Japanese industrial presence.
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