Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma formally inaugurated the 5th edition of India-Japan Intellectual Conference

Guwahati: ‘Kizuna: Co-creating Ecosystems for Change—Technology, Education, and Logistics’ is the theme of the fifth edition of the India-Japan Intellectual Conclave, which was ceremoniously opened in Guwahati on Thursday evening by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Experts, decision-makers, and interested parties from India and Japan have gathered for the two-day summit, which was arranged by Asian Confluence in partnership with the Japanese Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs.

“This conclave marks a milestone in our collaborative journey, fostering a holistic discourse that integrates key sectors like semiconductors, education, and logistics,” CM Sarma stated in his remarks on the occasion. I applaud Asian Confluence’s efforts in organizing this discussion with such significance and concentration, working with the Japanese Embassy in India and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

According to him, the summit will emphasize joint initiatives in Northeast India between Japan and India, resolving obstacles and showcasing prospects.

“Japan’s first adoption of India’s spiritual and cultural core via Buddhism in 552 CE marked the beginning of an everlasting relationship between India and Japan. Buddhism is a pillar of the alliance between India and Japan because of this relationship, which implanted values of wisdom, compassion, and enlightenment in Japanese culture, according to CM.

The Chief Minister emphasized that India’s and Japan’s longstanding historical and cultural connections serve as a source of inspiration and support for one another.

With more than 40,000 Indians living in Japan and more than 15,000 Japanese settling in India, there are clear and active people-to-people interactions today. With bilateral trade reaching $22.9 billion in 2023, Japan continues to be one of India’s most important trading partners. Furthermore, the roughly 1,500 Japanese businesses that operate in India serve to further solidify the expanding economic ties and mutual dedication to success,” Sarma said.

The chief minister mentioned his recent trip to Japan, saying that he met with well-known Japanese companies to discuss potential investment prospects in Assam. Finding opportunities for future cooperation was further aided by visits to Micron Memory Fab, meetings with important Japanese ministries, and conversations with top institutions.

When speaking about the possibility of Assam-Japan cooperation, CM Sarma emphasized that interpersonal interactions, economic partnerships between travel agencies, and start-up businesses may greatly advance shared interests. He did, however, note that in order to promote communication between Assam and Japanese SMEs, support infrastructure is required.

The CM said that there is still a lot of unrealized potential for cooperation between Assam and Japan. Thus, he said that now is the moment to seize this chance and establish closer relationships.

Assam has a number of fundamental advantages that might promote fruitful collaboration between the two areas. In addition to its advantageous position, Assam has several other potentials that might be very important in promoting the prosperity of both Assam and Japan. These include green energy, tourism, renewable energy, natural resources, information technology, infrastructure, and ease of doing business.

In his statement, CM Sarma also called for collaborations with Japan in the fields of electronics, precision engineering, and green technology, with a particular emphasis on electric cars, renewable energy, and sustainable innovations.

The chief minister thanked the organizer and said he was pleased that the conference with the subject Co-Creating Ecosystems for Change will serve as a catalyst for the growth of Assam and other Northeastern states.

He said that an ecosystem of services centered on the semiconductor assembly and design sector has enormous potential given the current proposal to establish a semiconductor assembly factory at Jagiroad. In this regard, the CM said that the Japanese and Indian industries can work together to create a robust ecosystem that can harness the region’s semiconductor sector’s potential.

At the event, the chief minister also extended an invitation to Japanese businesspeople and investors to attend the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open.

A number of luminaries attended the event, including Secretary East MEA Joydeep Majumdar, Japanese Ambassador to India ONO Keiichi, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister KK Dwivedi, Chairman of the Governing Council Asian Confluence MP Bezbaruah, and many more.

A Japanese delegation team has previously visited the semiconductor project site in the Morigaon district’s Jagiroad.