Japanese SMEs, startups to foray into Indian agro-tech, e-commerce market

New Delhi, Sept 7 (KNN) Japan is looking at opportunities for their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups to enter various sectors in India such as processed foods, agro-tech, e-commerce etc.

The country is planning to grow presence of its companies by targeting fresh fruits, retail, healthcare, electronics, space, co-research and R&D sector, as per Asian Community News Network.

The count of Japanese companies in India has dropped since 2021 and has been stagnant.

Compared to a total of 1,441 registered Japanese companies in India in 2018, the number stood at 1,454 in 2019, 1,455 in 2020 before it dipped to 1,439 last year, reported Financial Express.

Takashi Suzuki, the new Chief Director General of Japan’s trade promotion arm Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) told Asian Community News Network, “In India 80 per cent of the Japanese companies are big or listed ones and the rest 20 per cent are SMEs. However, our investment strategy in countries like China and ASEAN is just the reverse, and hardly 20 per cent of the Japanese companies are large segment and 80 per cent are SMEs.”

“This should change in India as we plan to attract more SMEs and startups especially in the non-automotive and service sector from Japan (to India),” he said.

Multiple business promotional events in India will be hosted by JETRO in collaboration with Japan embassy.  (KNN Bureau)