UP and Japan’s Yamanashi province to collaborate on industrial cooperation, tourism and vocational education

Lucknow :Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday evening, welcomed the Honorable Governor of Japan’s Yamanashi Province, Mr. Kotaro Nagasaki, highlighting India and Japan’s centuries-old friendship rooted in cultural, strategic, and economic cooperation. He emphasized Prime Minister Modi’s global message of peace inspired by Lord Buddha and the strong ties forged with former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, elevating bilateral relations. CM Yogi reaffirmed the state’s commitment to collaboration with Japanese companies, noting Japan’s pivotal role as a partner in the Global Investors Summit 2023.

An MoU was signed between the Uttar Pradesh government and Yamanashi Prefecture (Japan) was signed in the field of Industrial Cooperation, Tourism and Vocational Education in front of the Chief Minister at his official residence. On behalf of the state government, Chief Secretary Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh and Director General of the Governor’s Policy Planning Bureau of Yamanashi Province, Mr. Junichi Ishidera, exchanged the MoU.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the MoU between Uttar Pradesh and Japan reflects Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to fostering collaboration with Quad nations based on shared democratic values. Over 1,400 Japanese companies currently operate in India, including seven major firms active in Uttar Pradesh, such as Honda Motors, Yamaha Motors, and Mitsui Technologies. With bilateral trade reaching $22.854 billion in FY 2023-24, including mutual exports worth US $ 17.69 billion from Japan and US $ 5.15 billion from India, economic cooperation between India and Japan remains robust. CM Yogi emphasized Uttar Pradesh’s “unlimited potential” and expressed confidence that this MoU will further strengthen India-Japan relations.

CM Yogi Adityanath emphasized Uttar Pradesh’s pivotal role as India’s most populous state and the fourth largest by area. “With 25 crore residents, the state boasts the country’s largest labor and consumer market. Over the past eight years, significant strides have been made to foster a conducive investment environment, supported by robust connectivity across rail, road, air, and waterways, enhancing logistics efficiency for global and domestic markets. Uttar Pradesh hosts India’s largest railway network (16,000+ km) and major portions of the Western (8.5%) and Eastern (57%) Dedicated Freight Corridors, converging at Dadri, Greater Noida. Known as the ‘Expressway State,’ it features 13 expressways spanning 1,225 km, with six completed and seven under development, ensuring seamless connectivity to manufacturing hubs”, he stated.

The Chief Minister informed the Japanese delegation that Uttar Pradesh is gaining recognition as the ‘Expressway State,’ with a projected 55% share of the nation’s total expressways following the completion of the 594 km Ganga Expressway between Meerut and Prayagraj. Currently, five expressways spanning 1,130 km are operational, and three more, totaling 720 km, are under construction. Uttar Pradesh is also set to become the only state in India with five international airports, with existing facilities in Ayodhya, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Kushinagar, and Asia’s largest international airport under construction in Jewar. In total, 16 domestic and four international airports are operational in the state. Drawing parallels between Yamanashi Prefecture and Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi highlighted their shared landlocked status and the innovative solutions adopted, such as the development of dry ports and activation of inland waterways. Notably, the country’s first waterway connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal.

The Chief Minister shared that India’s first ‘Freight Village’ is being developed on 100 acres in Varanasi to serve as a trans-shipment hub, connecting export centers of eastern Uttar Pradesh to eastern Indian ports. Contributing 9.2% to India’s GDP, Uttar Pradesh is among the nation’s largest economies and is recognized as the food basket of India, leading in the production of food grains, milk, and sugarcane. The state offers vast opportunities in agriculture, food processing, and the dairy sector.

Highlighting sustainability, the CM noted the introduction of the Green Hydrogen Policy, with 20 MoUs signed for investments worth ₹2.73 lakh crore in this sector. Ayodhya and 17 municipal corporations are also being developed as solar cities.

On cultural ties, he emphasized the historic connections between Japan and India, particularly through Buddhism. Key Buddhist sites like Kapilvastu, Sarnath, Shravasti, and Kushinagar have been integrated into a dedicated Buddhist Circuit. CM Yogi invited the Japanese delegation to visit these significant locations to experience their rich heritage firsthand.
The CM said that in the Electronics and IT/ITES sector, Uttar Pradesh has the distinction of contributing about 45 percent of India’s total mobile manufacturing. About 55 percent of India’s mobile components are manufactured here. About 26 percent of India’s mobile manufacturers are active in Uttar Pradesh and more than 200 ESDM companies are located in the state. The state government is developing clusters for semi-conductor manufacturing and fab-units. Apart from this, Uttar Pradesh is rapidly emerging as the main hub of data centers in India.

Under the Startup India Ranking (2021), the state has been classified in the category of ‘Leader States’ by the Government of India. More than 7,600 startups have been registered in Uttar Pradesh so far under the ‘Startup India’ program whereas 6 Centers of Excellence are being developed. One of the 2- Defense Industrial Corridors announced in India is being developed in Uttar Pradesh. With a rapidly growing startup ecosystem, Uttar Pradesh has immense opportunities for angel investors and venture capitalists to encourage startups in the defense and aerospace value-chain. Japan should take advantage of this. This promotes technology transfer, research and development and innovation.

The Chief Minister said that the state’s first medical device park has been launched near the Yamuna Expressway. Similarly, Film City, Toy Park, Apparel Park, Handicraft Park, Logistics Hub are being developed in the Yamuna Expressway area. Work is underway to establish a data center with a total capacity of 636 MW towards making the state a data center hub. The state government has provided a competitive, attractive and supportive incentive framework by making structural changes in its policies. “Our industrial policy provides an option-based model, which encourages production, employment and exports. We are also encouraging new areas including circular economy, infrastructure projects and green hydrogen. Relations between India and Japan extend to the states as well as the central government. Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh has good relations with Japanese cities. These partnerships aim to promote cooperation in many areas including trade, culture and governance”, the CM stated.

The Chief Minister highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s progress in clean energy, emphasizing initiatives in solar energy, waste-to-energy, and hydrogen technology. The state aims to generate 22,000 MW of solar energy by 2027, with significant investments already underway in solar and bio-fuel sectors. He noted that Japan’s collaboration in education could foster innovative partnerships for skill development and knowledge transfer.

The CM also emphasized opportunities for collaboration in IT, communication, and technology infrastructure, as well as Japan’s potential contributions to smart cities, urban transport, and disaster-resilient infrastructure development. Given Uttar Pradesh’s agricultural richness, he stressed the need for cooperation in food processing, agri-technology, and supply chain management to drive further growth in the sector. He highlighted the potential for joint ventures to promote advanced technologies for sustainable agriculture and value-added food products. Uttar Pradesh, with its large youth population, holds immense potential as the “youngest state in the world.” He noted that training programs facilitated by Japan could equip the youth with global-level skills, enabling them to contribute effectively to various industries.
Looking ahead, the CM pointed out that the current population under 15 years will soon join the workforce, underscoring the importance of skill development. He also assured the delegation of a transparent system in Uttar Pradesh, where technology has minimized human interference, providing a seamless experience for investors. In closing, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his gratitude to all the delegations for their participation and collaboration.

On the occasion, the Honorable Governor of Yamanashi Province, Japan, Kotaro Nagasaki, highlighted the deep spiritual and historical ties between Yamanashi Prefecture and Uttar Pradesh. He expressed joy over the MoU and affirmed Japan’s commitment to mutual cooperation in areas such as skilled labor development, renewable energy, hydro power, and knowledge and technology exchange. The Governor emphasized that this collaboration would elevate the strategic relations between India and Japan to new heights. Addressing Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he invited him to visit Yamanashi Province, referring to Japan as the CM’s “second home”. He concluded by expressing gratitude to all participants.

CM Yogi welcomes delegation in Japanese language

Mina san kon-nichi wa.

Yamanashiken no genkou no chiji Nagasaki Kotarou sama to chiimu,

Kami sama gautamu Buda no seichi na utaru puradeshu shu e,

Kokoro kara Kangei itashimasu.

Bodaisena kara suami vivekananda maade, Nihon to indo no aida, Nagakute utakana bunka kankei no rekishi ga sonzai shite imasu.

Gozonji no toori mahatoma ganji shi no kichou na shibutsu niwa sanzaru – mizaru, kikazaru, iwazaru no zou mo fukumarete arimasu.

It translates to : A warm welcome to the Honorable Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, Mr. Kotaro Nagasaki, and the esteemed delegation to the sacred land of Lord Gautam Buddha, Uttar Pradesh. Namaste!
India and Japan share a profound and enduring history of cultural connections, spanning from the time of Bodhisena to the teachings of Swami Vivekananda.
It is worth noting that Mahatma Gandhi cherished small statues of the three wise monkeys—Mizaru (see no evil), Kikazaru (hear no evil), and Iwazaru (speak no evil)—among his prized personal possessions. These symbols of wisdom surely resonate with you.