India and Japan Launch Investment Drive for Uttar Pradesh

The UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026, held in New Delhi from August 18 to 23, aims to transition government-to-government relations into concrete private-sector partnerships. Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, invited Japanese firms to treat the state as their second industrial home, proposing the creation of a Japan City near Noida International Airport and the integration of Japanese operational standards like Kaizen into local skill development.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal detailed a strategic target of 10 trillion yen in Japanese investment over the next decade, focusing on semiconductors, AI, critical minerals, and next-generation mobility. Goyal noted that while bilateral trade reached approximately $27.5 billion in FY 2025-26, this remains only a fraction of the nations' potential. To accelerate this growth, Goyal is leading a delegation of Indian industrialists and entrepreneurs to Japan.

The summit, attended by over 200 Japanese leaders led by Yamanashi Prefecture Governor Kotaro Nagasaki, featured the virtual groundbreaking of projects by Escorts Kubota and Minda Corporation. These investments total 3,191 crore and are expected to create over 10,000 jobs in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority region. Additional initiatives include the establishment of two green hydrogen Centres of Excellence and a tripartite MoU involving the Japan External Trade Organization, Invest UP, and CII to streamline business partnerships.