CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday received Japanese Ambassador to India Ono Keiichi for a courtesy call. The meeting focused on further expanding cooperation between Uttar Pradesh and Japan in investment, advanced technology, semiconductors, human resource development, skill training, employment and tourism. Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh is ready to take its economic and industrial ties with Japan to new heights. He said the state offers extensive opportunities for Japanese investors, ranging from MSMEs to large industries and that cooperation between the two sides can translate these possibilities into concrete outcomes.
Semiconductor cooperation between India and Japan was a key focus of the meeting. Japanese side informed that during Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit to India in July 2026, semiconductors were identified as one of the five priority areas of Japan-India economic security cooperation. In this context, a team from Japanese industry is scheduled to visit Semicon India and HCL Technologies in mid-September.
Discussions were also held on the possibility of the Uttar Pradesh Government participating in a meeting of the Semiconductor Committee of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Japanese side expressed its intention to send a team to Uttar Pradesh to explore opportunities in the semiconductor sector. CM said there is significant potential for collaboration between Japan’s technological expertise and UP’s industrial capabilities in this critical area of advanced technology.
Chief Minister said Uttar Pradesh offers extensive investment opportunities for Japanese companies. Japanese investors are welcome across sectors, from MSMEs to large industries. The state’s vast market, improved connectivity, strong industrial base and rapidly developing infrastructure provide a favorable environment for Japanese companies. ‘Japan City in Noida’ is emerging as an important center of this partnership. Major industrial clusters and excellent connectivity around the area further enhance its investment potential.
Japanese companies, including Yamaha, Denso, NTT DATA, Toyo Ink, and Panasonic, have already established a presence in Uttar Pradesh. Near Japan City, Kubota is also working towards manufacturing tractors and construction machinery. Discussions were also held on further expanding Japanese investment in the state with the support of JETRO and Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The meeting also explored ways to further strengthen cooperation between UP and Japan in human resource development. CM said UP has a large pool of young human resources whose skills can be developed to meet the requirements of Japanese industries. Through Japan’s technical training program and specified skilled worker program, young people from the state are already getting opportunities to work in Japan and gain international work experience.
The two sides discussed possibilities of cooperation in developing skill development centers where young people can receive technical and employment-oriented training aligned with the requirements of Japanese industries. This would help directly connect skill development with employment opportunities.
The meeting also discussed preparing youth from Uttar Pradesh for employment opportunities in Japan in sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and nursing care. In this context, an employment fair organized in March at R.B. PG College, Agra, for employment opportunities in Japan’s agriculture sector was highlighted. An agreement between Amity University and Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture to create internship and training opportunities for students was also cited as an important initiative reflecting growing human resource cooperation between the two countries. Combining Japanese-language proficiency, technical skills and industry-oriented training can further expand employment opportunities for young people from Uttar Pradesh in Japan.
Tourism cooperation was another important area of discussion. Japanese side requested UP’s participation in ‘Tourism Expo Japan 2026’, scheduled to be held in September. The CM gave his consent for UP to participate. Both sides viewed the expo as an important opportunity to showcase UP’s tourism destinations to Japanese tourists and the tourism industry and to promote greater tourism exchange between the two countries.
In 2025, 2.19 lakh Japanese citizens visited India, registering a 12.5% increase over the previous year. Uttar Pradesh has significant potential to attract Japanese tourists through its Buddhist, spiritual, cultural and heritage tourism destinations.
The meeting highlighted the shared Buddhist and cultural heritage of India and Japan as an important link for strengthening tourism cooperation. Buddhist and cultural connections between Sarnath and Nara in Japan reflect historical ties between the two countries. The year 2027 will mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan, and the occasion was viewed as an opportunity to further strengthen tourism, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
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Notably, as part of the Uttar Pradesh-Japan Investment Meeting, a delegation of more than 200 representatives from Japanese industry is currently visiting Uttar Pradesh. Following interactions with Japanese investors across various sectors, several MoUs have been signed. These investment proposals are expected to generate around 10,000 employment opportunities in the state.