Tokyo, Japan:
Uttar Pradesh Industrial Development Minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday as part of a four-day official visit led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and attracting foreign investment to the state. The visit marked a significant step in Uttar Pradesh’s global investment outreach, with leading Japanese corporations expressing interest in expanding operations and investing across logistics, renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, semiconductors, ICT, and data center infrastructure.
Upon arrival in Tokyo, Minister Nandi was welcomed by Yamanashi Prefecture Vice Governor Junichi Ishidera, India’s Ambassador to Japan Nagma M. Malik, and members of the Indian community. The visit is part of a strategic effort by the Uttar Pradesh government to position the state as a major destination for global industrial investment, supported by its expanding infrastructure, industrial corridors, and investor-friendly policies.
A key meeting was held with Kazuki Shimizu, Managing Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Infrastructure Projects Business Unit at Mitsui & Company, along with senior members of the company’s leadership team. During the discussions, the Uttar Pradesh delegation invited Mitsui & Company to explore transformative investment opportunities in renewable energy, information and communication technology (ICT), semiconductors, and data centers. These sectors are central to the state’s industrial expansion strategy and its integration into global supply chains. Both sides also discussed collaboration in infrastructure development, logistics networks, and industrial projects to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s growth corridors and enhance its role in international trade and manufacturing.
Minister Nandi also met Norihiko Ishiguro, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). During the meeting, the minister acknowledged JETRO’s ongoing efforts in strengthening Japan-India economic cooperation. Ishiguro noted that Japanese companies are increasingly interested in expanding their presence in India due to the country’s favorable investment climate. He described Uttar Pradesh as a strong growth engine driven by expanding infrastructure and industrial capacity. Officials from Uttar Pradesh emphasized the state’s commitment to maintaining strong law and order, ensuring the availability of land banks, providing fast-track approvals, and implementing investor-friendly policies to facilitate industrial expansion and foreign partnerships.
Minister Nandi participated in the Uttar Pradesh Investment Road Show in Tokyo alongside Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, where prominent Japanese industry leaders were invited to invest in the state’s rapidly growing economy. During the event, the delegation highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s transformation into a major contributor to India’s economic growth, supported by large-scale infrastructure projects, improved governance, and industrial expansion initiatives. The road show served as a platform to showcase the state’s industrial potential and strengthen economic ties between Uttar Pradesh and Japan.
Following the road show, the Uttar Pradesh delegation met representatives from Minda Corporation (Spark Minda Group) and its Japanese joint venture partners. The meeting included Akash Minda, Executive Director of Minda Corporation, and Hiroaki Omori, Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Spark Minda Toyo Denso Pvt. Ltd. An agreement was signed to strengthen Uttar Pradesh’s advanced automotive component manufacturing ecosystem. The state government assured full support in terms of land availability, infrastructure development, and administrative facilitation to enable industrial growth, technology collaboration, and job creation.
The minister also held high-level discussions with senior leadership from Suzuki Motor Corporation and Maruti Suzuki India Limited to further deepen industrial cooperation with Uttar Pradesh. Participants included Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation; Kenichi Ayukawa; Koichi Suzuki; H. Takeuchi; and Rahul Bharti. The discussions focused on Suzuki’s plans to enter the renewable energy sector through a proposed compressed bio-gas plant in the state. Both sides explored opportunities to strengthen the automotive value chain and expand supplier ecosystems, which are expected to generate significant employment and industrial growth. The delegation also discussed Maruti Suzuki’s long-term vision to increase its annual vehicle production capacity in India from 2 million units to 4 million units.
As part of efforts to support renewable energy and industrial development, the Uttar Pradesh government offered land at competitive rates in the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority area for renewable energy projects. Additional land parcels across the state were also proposed for the development of automotive clusters, reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable industrial growth and green mobility initiatives.
The delegation held a formal meeting with senior leadership of Marubeni Corporation’s Finance Business Group to explore long-term partnerships and investment opportunities in Uttar Pradesh. During the discussions, officials presented the state’s world-class infrastructure, integrated law-and-order framework, investor-friendly industrial policies, and rapidly developing industrial ecosystem. Marubeni Corporation was formally invited to establish manufacturing facilities and expand industrial investment in the state.
In another significant development, Minister Nandi led discussions with representatives of Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation. The meeting resulted in agreement on investment in Uttar Pradesh’s logistics sector, a move expected to strengthen the state’s infrastructure capacity and enhance its position as a major logistics and industrial hub. The proposed collaboration is likely to contribute to improving supply chain efficiency, industrial connectivity, and economic competitiveness.
During the first day of the visit, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath interacted with members of the Indian community in Tokyo, encouraging them to remain connected with India’s development journey while contributing to global cooperation. He emphasized the importance of strengthening economic and cultural ties between India and Japan and invited overseas Indians to participate in the country’s growth initiatives aligned with national development goals.
The visit highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s strategic focus on attracting global investment in emerging sectors, strengthening industrial ecosystems, and building international partnerships. Meetings with leading Japanese corporations and trade organizations demonstrated strong interest in investing in the state’s logistics, renewable energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors. The ongoing investment outreach is expected to play a critical role in accelerating industrial growth, expanding employment opportunities, and enhancing Uttar Pradesh’s position as a key industrial and investment destination in India.
