World
PM Modi Pitches India As ‘Springboard’ For Japanese Businesses To The Global South At Business Event In Tokyo
PM Modi in Tokyo Forum, Japan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (29 August) positioned India as the key gateway for Japanese capital and technology to expand across the Global South, stressing that the two nations’ partnership had evolved into a force for regional and global growth.
Modi tweeted on X, "Addressed a business event in Tokyo. The presence of Prime Minister Ishiba made this even more special, also indicating the priority we accord to bilateral economic linkages."
Addressing the India–Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo soon after his arrival, Modi underlined that Japanese companies had already invested over $40 billion in India, with $13 billion flowing in the last two years alone.
According to JBIC, he said, India remains the “most promising” investment destination, while JETRO found that 80 per cent of Japanese firms plan expansion in India, with three-fourths already profitable.
“Capital in India doesn’t just grow, it multiplies,” Modi said, arguing that political and economic stability, transparent policies, and record forex reserves of nearly $700 billion made India a trusted bet.
He cited S&P Global’s recent credit rating upgrade for India as international recognition of reforms.
Outlining five priority areas for deepening cooperation, Modi called for:
- Fusing Japan’s tech strength with India’s talent in AI, quantum computing, biotech and space,
- Driving a green transition through renewable and nuclear energy collaboration,
- Accelerating next-gen infrastructure including the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail, and
- Building a “Japan-ready” workforce through skilling and language training.
He emphasised that India’s “reform, perform, transform” approach, ranging from GST to a simplified tax code, single-window digital approvals, and deregulation, had opened up sectors once considered sensitive, including defence, space and now nuclear energy.
“India is the springboard for Japanese businesses to the Global South,” Modi said, concluding that together, the two nations could anchor the Asian Century on stability, growth, and prosperity.
