Tokyo/ New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met today with the Governors of 16 Japanese Prefectures in Tokyo and encouraged them to actively leverage the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative, launched at the 15th Annual India-Japan Summit, to enhance cooperation in trade, technology, tourism, skills, security, and cultural exchange between the two countries.
Prime Minister Modi urged the Governors and Indian state governments to harness this initiative and forge dynamic partnerships in key areas such as manufacturing, technology, innovation, mobility, next-generation infrastructure, start-ups, and SMEs.
Noting that each Prefecture in Japan has its “niche economic and technological strengths”, and likewise Indian states their own “diverse capabilities”, Prime Minister invited the Governors to participate in India’s growth story.
The Prime Minister urged them to contribute towards youth and skills exchange commitments made by the two countries and optimally combine Japanese technology with Indian talent. The Governors noted that sub-national collaboration was key to take India-Japan business, educational, cultural and people-to-people ties to the next level of ambition, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
In his address, Prime Minister noted that India-Japan contemporary ties, drawing vitality from the age-old civilizational connections between the two countries, have continued to flourish.
Highlighting the momentum in the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership across domains, PM Modi emphasised that time had come to give a “renewed push to State-Prefecture engagement”, going beyond the ties centred around Tokyo and Delhi.
In this context, he reiterated the importance of the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative launched at the 15th Annual Summit, which aims to accelerate cooperation in trade, technology, tourism, skills development, security, and culture.
He urged the Governors and Indian State governments to “leverage the new initiative and forge partnerships in the fields of manufacturing, technology, innovation, mobility, next-generation infrastructure, start-ups and SMEs.”
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X, “Taking greater strides in the steadfast India-Japan ties. PM Narendra Modi met with the Governors of 16 prefectures in Tokyo. PM highlighted the potential of state-prefecture collaboration and urged action under the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative launched during the 15th Annual Summit for shared progress. Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in technology, innovation, investment, skills, start-ups, and SMEs.”
India and Japan on Friday adopted a joint vision titled “India – Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade: Eight Directions to Steer the Special Strategic and Global Partnership” during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tokyo for the Annual Summit 2025 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
The eight directions to steer the special strategic and global partnership include: Next Generation Economic Partnership, Next Generation Economic Security Partnership, Next Generation Mobility, Next Generation Ecological Legacies, Next Gen Technology and Innovation Partnership, Investing in Next Gen Health, Next Gen People-to-People Partnership, Next-Gen State-Prefecture Partnership.
Under the next generation economic partnership, both countries, as per the joint vision agreed upon, are building on the progress made in the 2022-2026 target of JPY 5 trillion of public and private investment and financing from Japan to India and setting a new target of JPY 10 trillion of private investment.
Strengthening India-Japan industrial cooperation for the “Make in India” initiative through the India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership (IJICP) to help upgrade product quality in India using high-quality products necessary for Japanese firms, the PMO release added.
Looking ahead to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, the leaders noted with satisfaction that both nations are steadily advancing towards this important milestone, which will be commemorated in a befitting manner.
In this context, they welcomed the vibrant exchange of views, substantive policy recommendations, and dynamic collaboration among stakeholders from both countries—across business, academia, science, and culture.
Prime Minister Modi also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Ishiba to visit India for the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit to be hosted later this year. Prime Minister Ishiba accepted the invitation with pleasure.
