New Delhi, Aug 7 (KNN) India is planning to set up the 13th Japanese industrial township in Assam, a move aimed at promoting domestic manufacturing and strengthening economic ties between the two countries, said Secretary, Department of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Dr Guruprasad Mahapatra.

He said that they are working on a GIS enabled database of industrial areas and clusters across the country.

While speaking at the Invest India Exclusive Investment Forum - Japan Edition, through video conference, on Thursday, Mahapatra said, '' In terms of infrastructure, India has 12 Japanese industrial townships across nine states, a 13th is being planned in Assam. These are integrated industrial parks ready to move in infrastructure facilities, with world-class infrastructure, plug and play factories, pre-approved licences and investment incentives exclusively for Japanese companies."

Meanwhile, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal asserted that India and Japan are looking to have trusted partners from authentic investors.

''It is important that Japan and India expand trade and business relationships. Japan is one of the most important and trusted trading partner,'' he added.

The Minister further said that as the world has recovered from the grip of the COVID-19, the government of India has been preparing strategies and action plans not only for business continuity and is set for a revival but also setting out red carpet for global investors to continue to choose India as the preferred destination for investments.

''One of the biggest things that this Government has done to convert this current situation into a huge opportunity, is bringing a number of reforms that have happened recently as reflected in our progress, by more than 65 places in the last five years in the Ease of Doing Business of the World Bank. A large number of policies have been introduced by the Government of India and the State Governments to make this happen,'' Goyal said.

Dwelling on the Indo-Japan close relationship, Goyal said that both share common interests in economic and strategic fields, adding ''economic relations between India and Japan have vast potential for growth.''  

“Japan’s interest in India is increasing due to a variety of reasons including India’s large and growing market. With its large population and growing consumer base, India is the preferred destination for Japanese investments.  There are more than 1400 Japanese companies to work within India and well treated 5000 business establishments around the country and 10000 Japanese brothers and sisters are now leading a very fulfilling and productive life in India,” Goyal avowed.

Hiroshi Kajiyama, Minister of Economy,Trade and Industry (METI), Government of Japan, in his remarks, reiterated his country’s interest in furthering the bilateral relations while Shigehiro Tanaka, Vice Minister, METI,Government of Japan made a presentation on  ‘India-Japan Industrial Competitiveness Partnership’ and the way forward.