Assam CM Sarma holds meeting with Japanese ministers, vows to strengthen mutual ties

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: With that objective to strengthen relations between Assam and Japan through shared values and collaborative initiatives and pave the way for industrialization and economic growth, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday, met Japan's State Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism, Furukawa Yasushi, in Tokyo and spoke at length on boosting ties with Japan during his three-day visit to the country.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma talked with Minister Yasushi about promoting tourism and using it as a force multiplier to bring prosperity and deepen the friendly ties between Assam and Japan. Dr. Sarma said that from Charaideo Moidams to Kaziranga, the flourishing tea gardens along with the sprawling golf courses stand tall as Assam's untapped potential, which can offer a grand experience to the Japanese tourists.

The Chief Minister during the day also met Japan's State Minister for Justice, Komura Masahiro. They had an insightful conversation on the shared values and ethos that tie India and Japan. He particularly pointed out how the ideals of Gautam Buddha form the spiritual bond between the societies of Assam and Japan. During the meeting, CM Dr. Sarma also stated the Assam Government's intention and priority to establish an industrial park in Guwahati, specially dedicated to Japanese companies. The Chief Minister said that the proposed industrial park is a visionary step toward a brighter future for Assam's youth. It was also stated in the meeting that talented youth from Assam can help bridge the demand for a skilled workforce in Japan through programmes already operational between Assam and Japan.

Earlier, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo. Recollecting Netaji's visit to Japan and the gargantuan efforts he undertook to secure Japan's support in fighting colonial rule, the Chief Minister reiterated Netaji's thoughts and his unparalleled contribution to India's history.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also visited the historic Hiroshima Peace Memorial and paid his tributes to the victims of the Hiroshima bombing tragedy by laying a wreath at the memorial. He also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the statue located in the Peace Memorial Park. It may be noted that the Mahatma's bust was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023.

In Hiroshima, the Chief Minister visited the Micron Memory Fab plant, an important player in the semiconductor ecosystem in Japan. In light of Micron's expertise in the semiconductor sector, Dr. Sarma gave a pitch on strengthening the collaboration between Assam and Micron to pave the way for mutual growth. During his visit to the Micron Memory facility, he interacted with Joshua Lee, the company's vice president, and invited Micron to be a part of Assam's semiconductor growth story. The CM said that Jagiroad's Electronic Township is on the verge of becoming a global semiconductor hub, and firms like Micron, which is a pioneer in FAB technology, can immensely strengthen Assam's semiconductor value chain.

Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also addressed business leaders at the Advantage Assam 2.0 Road Show in the city of Osaka, highlighting Assam's economic potential and investor-friendly policies. Presenting Assam to the prospective investors, the Chief Minister said that Assam is a well-connected investment destination.

On the sidelines of the roadshow, the Chief Minister also engaged in a very productive discussion with Lekh Raj Juneja, CEO, Kameda Seika, and invited him to explore opportunities in Assam's rapidly growing food sector. The CM said that the state already has a well-established ecosystem for the industry with specialized food parks and major companies already running their operations. He also congratulated Juneja on being recently conferred with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award 2025.

The Chief Minister later held a productive discussion with Pravin Chaudhari, Executive Officer and Head of India Business, and Sadayuki Sato, DG, General Affairs, of Kansai Paint, on potential investment opportunities in Assam.

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