Guwahati (Assam) [India], February 7 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday night ceremoniously inaugurated the fifth version of the India-Japan Intellectual Conclave, titled ‘Kizuna: Co-creating Ecosystems for Change – Technology, Education, and Logistics’, in Guwahati.
The two-day conclave, organized by Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Ministry of External Affairs, has introduced collectively specialists, policymakers, and stakeholders from India and Japan.
Speaking on the event, CM Sarma stated, “This conclave marks a milestone in our collaborative journey, fostering a holistic discourse that integrates key sectors such as semiconductors, education and logistics. I commend the efforts of Asian Confluence, in partnership with the Embassy of Japan in India and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, for curating this dialogue with such focus and impact”.
He said that the conclave would highlight collaborative tasks between India and Japan in Northeast India, highlighting alternatives and addressing challenges.
“India and Japan share an enduring bond that dates back to 552 CE, when Japan first embraced India’s spiritual and cultural essence through Buddhism. This connection instilled ideals of wisdom, compassion and enlightenment in Japanese society, making Buddhism a cornerstone of the friendship between India and Japan,” CM stated.
The Chief Minister confused that the deep-rooted historic and cultural ties between India and Japan proceed to encourage and strengthen their relationship.
“Today, vibrant people-to-people exchanges are evident, with over 40,000 Indians residing in Japan and more than 15,000 Japanese making India their home. Japan remains one of India’s key trade partners, with bilateral trade reaching $22.9 billion in 2023. Additionally, the presence of approximately 1,500 Japanese companies in India further reinforces the growing economic partnership and shared commitment to prosperity,” Sarma added. Referring to his current go to to Japan, the CM stated that throughout the go to, he engaged with distinguished Japanese organizations to discover funding alternatives in Assam. Meetings with key Japanese ministers, a go to to Micron Memory Fab and interactions with main universities additional helped figuring out areas for future collaboration.
Discussing the potential for Assam-Japan collaborations, CM Sarma highlighted that people-to-people contact, enterprise collaborations amongst tourism operators, and startup firms can considerably improve mutual pursuits. However, he identified that assist infrastructure is required to facilitate interactions between Japanese SMEs and Assam.
The CM additionally stated that the potential for Assam-Japan collaboration stays huge but largely untapped. He, subsequently stated that it’s the time to unlock this chance and forge deeper ties.
Assam possesses a number of core strengths that may drive significant cooperation between the 2 areas. Besides its locational benefit, Assam can be endowed with potentials like inexperienced vitality, tourism, pure sources, renewable vitality, info know-how, infrastructure, ease of doing enterprise and so on which might play a vital function in driving the mutual progress of Assam and Japan.
CM Sarma throughout his speech additionally sought partnerships with Japan in electronics, precision engineering and inexperienced applied sciences, with a powerful give attention to renewable vitality, electrical autos and sustainable improvements. Thanking the organiser, the CM expressed happiness that the conclave is being held on the theme Co-Creating Ecosystems for Change will act as force-multiplier for the event of Assam and different North Eastern states.
He additionally stated that within the gentle of the continued undertaking of establishing a semiconductor meeting plant at Jagiroad, there may be big potential for an ecosystem of companies across the semiconductor meeting and design business. In this context, the CM stated that Indian and Japanese business can collaborate to construct a powerful ecosystem, which might faucet the potential of semiconductor sector within the area. The CM on the event additionally invited Japanese traders, industrialists to Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit which will likely be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Secretary East MEA Joydeep Majumdar, Ambassador of Japan to India ONO Keiichi, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KK Dwivedi, Chairman Governing Council Asian Confluence MP Bezbaruah and host of different dignitaries had been current on the event.
Earlier, a delegation crew of Japan visited the Semiconductor Project website at Jagiroad in Morigaon district. (ANI)