The visit to Japan and South Korea will prove to be a new milestone in the industrial progress of the state: Chief Minister

• Punjab was presented as the most preferred investment destination
• Report presented on the basis of each day of the visit to both countries
• The upcoming investor summit will pave the way for integrating the technology of these countries with the state’s talent

Chandigarh, December 2025 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said today that the enthusiastic response received from investors during the recent visit to Japan and South Korea will prove to be a new milestone in the industrial progress of the state, and it will further accelerate Punjab’s emergence as the most preferred investment destination.

Sharing his experiences of the visits to Japan and South Korea, the Chief Minister said that he presented Punjab as an emerging industrial hub across the world. He said that the objective of this visit was to encourage investment in the state and to create more employment opportunities for the youth by accelerating industrial development.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this historic visit will help speed up industrial development and provide it with the necessary momentum.

The Chief Minister said that during a meeting, Ogawa Kazunori, Senior Managing Director of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), showed interest in exploring the possibilities of Punjab’s industrial and clean-energy projects. He said that they agreed to continue technical discussions on potential financial opportunities through Japanese companies. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the bank also welcomed the invitation to the Punjab Investment Summit and expressed the desire to participate.

The Chief Minister further said that Tomonori Kai, CEO and EVP of Aisin Industry Company Limited, and Toru Nakane showed positive interest in Punjab’s potential for future manufacturing or research & development opportunities. He said that Tanaka Hiroki, Global Strategy Manager and Product Planning Group, Yamaha Motor Company Limited, and Suzuki Mari openly discussed investment in electric vehicles, research & development collaboration, and skill development initiatives.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they also welcomed the invitation for the Progressive Punjab Investment Summit 2026 and expressed interest in staying connected with Punjab’s investment-friendly environment.

The Chief Minister said that in a meeting with Honda Motor Company Limited, Department Manager Tatsuo Nakamura and ITO Kiyoshi talked about exploring possibilities of component manufacturing in Punjab through Indian partners. Bhagwant Singh Mann assured the company of full facilitation and policy support and invited them to the Punjab Investment Summit 2026.

He said that Yamada Tatsuo, Director General of the South Asia Department of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), confirmed interest in supporting Punjab’s development initiatives, especially in technical cooperation and capacity-building programmes, including crop diversification. The Chief Minister said that discussions with JICA focused on potential cooperation in urban infrastructure, water management, and skill development. He said that JICA expressed willingness to explore deeper participation and project partnerships.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Hajime Ishii, Senior Vice President of Toray Industries, showed interest in technical and textile sectors for Punjab’s auto and aerospace sectors. The Chief Minister said that Parliamentary Vice Minister (Economy, Trade and Industry) Komori Takuo agreed to maintain coordination to connect Japanese firms with Invest Punjab.

He said that Jungo Okai, Head of Technology Business Management Unit, Fujitsu Limited, showed interest in digital governance solutions and assured that they would choose Mohali for future projects in India.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that on the second day of his Japan visit, the day started with a meeting with NEC Corporation. He said that Makoto Noda, Director, International Cooperation and Trade Department, and Miho Hara, Manager, showed interest in Punjab’s digital initiatives and industrial automation opportunities and agreed to assess Punjab’s IT ecosystem for company collaboration.

The Chief Minister further said that later in the day, more than 250 participants, including senior representatives of Japanese industrial and business institutions, participated in the Tokyo Road Show. He said that DG JETRO India Suzuki Takashi’s strong institutional participation reflects high-level support for India-Japan economic relations.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the experiences shared by Hero MotoCorp (Sumitomo & Kiryu Corporation), Vardhman Special Steels (Aichi Steel), and Excel Scout showcased examples of successful partnerships in Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that in the meeting with Sumitomo Corporation and Kiryu Corporation, company representatives Shohi Yoshida, Yoshito Miyazaki, Tomo Tozawa, Hiroki Yasukawa, and Kitaru Shimizu shared positive experiences through their existing collaboration with Hero MotoCorp in Punjab. He said that they agreed to evaluate Punjab’s industrial clusters for future projects, consider Mohali for technological initiatives, and assured deeper engagement with Punjab.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in a meeting with Topan Holdings, company representatives Satoshi Oiya (Head) and Masahiko Takewaki (Managing Director) formally expressed interest in expanding their Punjab-based company with a proposed investment of 300-400 crore rupees. The Chief Minister said that a memorandum of understanding was signed between Topan and Invest Punjab to develop a ‘Skilling Excellence Centre’ according to industry needs.

He said that in the meeting with NRIs and local partners, the focus remained on strengthening relationships with the diaspora to build long-term partnerships. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that emphasis was also laid on encouraging diaspora-led investment in key sectors such as construction, technology, and services.

The Chief Minister said that on the third day, a meeting was held at the headquarters of Aichi Steel, in which Chairman Fujioka Takahiro and President Ito Toshio welcomed the invitation to the conference and expressed interest in strong relations and wide investments. He said that Aichi Steel and Vardhman Special Steels have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly study investment activities in Punjab, which includes evaluating an investment of 500 crore rupees.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the agreement includes technical cooperation from Aichi’s side and the establishment of the unit and approvals on the ground from Vardhman’s side, and the state government has assured full support and priority development to existing Japanese companies in Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that during a meeting with Yanmar Holdings Company Limited, COO Tetsuya Yamamoto, President Kemal Shoshi, and CMD Varun Khanna highlighted their positive experience in Punjab, referencing their partnership with Sonalika and the acquisition of the Claas plant. He said that they also shared progressive plans for expansion in agri-technology and allied sectors. He said that the state government assured full support and facilitation for Yanmar’s future initiatives. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that they also agreed to explore deeper engagement, including the establishment of R&D in Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that on the last day of the Japan visit, he met representatives of Air Water Inc. in Osaka, during which Ken Shimizu, Head of India & Asia Division, and Naoki Oi showed interest in Punjab’s clean energy and industrial cluster after recognising opportunities in bio-methane and specialty gases. He said that they also agreed to explore possibilities in Punjab for future projects, including sustainable energy and water-treatment solutions.

Similarly, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that during a meeting with the Osaka Chamber of Commerce, President Yuichi Setsuo, Director Takayoshi Yanegoro, and Manager – International Division Kentaro Nagao welcomed the Punjab delegation and expressed deep interest in enhancing India-Japan business relations. The Chief Minister said that Nagao will serve as the focal point for India-related activities in OCCI. He said that OCCI acknowledged the increasing interest among Japanese companies in doing business with India and acquiring Indian talent, and also welcomed Indian investment in Japan. He said that they agreed to maintain close coordination with Invest Punjab and explore structural collaboration.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that during a meeting with Tokushima Auction Market & Global Venture Company Limited, CEO & President Yoshihisa Arai expressed interest in exploring possibilities in Punjab for agricultural market-development projects. The Chief Minister said that they also agreed to evaluate opportunities for joint ventures and exchange of technology in auction systems and agri-logistics.

He said that during the community meet with NRIs and local partners, the focus remained on strengthening ties with the diaspora to build long-term partnerships. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that diaspora-led investment in key sectors such as construction, technology, and services was also encouraged during the meeting.

The Chief Minister said that representatives of top companies from the Osaka region participated in the Osaka Road Show and showed deep interest in strong institutional partnerships with DG JETRO, Osaka Prefectural Government, and METI Kansai. He said that more than 80 delegates participated in the road show, strengthening the prospects of future investments.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the visit to the Republic of Korea began with a meeting with Ambassador Gaurangalal Das at the Indian Embassy in Seoul, during which he shared Punjab’s roadmap for economic and technological partnership with South Korea. The Chief Minister said that opportunities in several areas for investment and collaboration were also highlighted.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he strongly presented Punjab’s position as a competitive and strategic location for global business in North India. He said that after this, a meeting was held with NRIs in Seoul, in which the Punjabi community welcomed the delegation and expressed pride in Punjab’s global outreach. The Chief Minister urged the diaspora to play an active role in promoting Punjab to Korean investors.

The Chief Minister said that he received information about the food-processing sector from them. He said that during the meeting with Daewoo E&C, Chairman Jang Won-Ju, Senior Vice President Ryu Young-Min, Business Development Manager Baek In-Soo, Team Leader Kim Ho-Jun, and Business Development Manager Kim Dae-Yeon showed interest in Punjab’s development plans and opportunities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that both sides reaffirmed commitment to global partnership for accelerating infrastructure development and industrial modernisation.

The Chief Minister said that during the meeting with GS ENC, company representatives including Vice President Yang Ha Ryu (Daniel) and Manager Kim Jin-Wook showcased expertise in EPC, renewable energy, and ongoing projects in India (solar, wind, battery storage). The Chief Minister said that apart from discussing technology-transfer, he also highlighted challenges in biomass and battery-storage costs.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that another major highlight of the South Korea visit was the meeting with Nongshim, in which the company identified India as a priority market and expressed interest in Punjab for future expansion. The Chief Minister said that according to the outsourcing-share policy, evaluating a manufacturing unit in Punjab is included.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he also held meetings with legal firms regarding ease of doing business, and more than 42 delegates representing major Korean institutions—including top legal firms and industry associations—participated in the roundtable. He said that South Korea’s industry leaders showed deep interest in exploring Punjab as a hub for manufacturing and research & development for North India.

The Chief Minister said that on the same day, he also visited Pangyo Techno Valley, where officials gave detailed information about Pangyo’s unique model and accelerator programmes. He said that structural programmes, special test beds, and performance-based evaluation methodologies were reviewed. The Chief Minister said that the possibility of implementing such a framework in Mohali will be explored to promote opportunities for startups, research & development, and skilled employment.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that during the meeting with Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA), the association appreciated Punjab’s interest in developing an electronics and display-technology ecosystem.

The Chief Minister said that on the third day in Seoul, the Punjab Investment Road Show was held, in which the Indian Ambassador praised Punjab’s proactive investment initiatives and assured continued support from the Embassy for India-Korea industrial cooperation.

He said that the Managing Director of Sunjin praised the excellent quality of life in Mohali and Chandigarh and appreciated Invest Punjab’s professional approach. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that senior representatives of leading Korean and international organisations—including Bloomberg, BRICS India Trade Pvt Ltd, Kim & Chang, Shin & Kim LLC, KOTRA, Daeyang Corporation, Gawon International, TagHive, Punjabi Association of Korea, among others—participated in the road show, demonstrating strong institutional interest in Punjab.

During this, the Chief Minister said that in the meeting with Seoul Business Agency (SBA), the partners acknowledged strong complementarities between Seoul’s technological strengths and Punjab’s emerging IT, electronics, and startup ecosystem. Similarly, he said that Korea National Sports University (KNSU) showed deep interest in agreements for specialised training and academic-exchange programmes in sports during the Punjab visit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that KNSU has welcomed the proposals and recognised Punjab’s strong sports performance. The Chief Minister said that KNSU has been invited to visit Jalandhar, which is famous as the sports capital.

He said that the Tourism Road Show in Seoul also received strong encouragement, as more than 10 representatives of various tour operators participated and showed deep interest in exploring the state’s tourism potential.

He said that during the meeting with Sunjin, the company expressed its intention to expand its animal-feed capacity in Punjab and shared plans to establish poultry and dairy businesses in the state.

Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as the head of the state, it is his duty to keep people informed about the meetings he held and the outcomes of these discussions. The Chief Minister said that Japanese and South Korean people have high-level technology, but Punjab has the most innovative and hardworking talent. He expressed hope that the upcoming Progressive Punjab Investor Summit will pave the way for the synergy between technology and talent. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as a result, Punjab will become a leading state in the country and the world.

On this occasion, Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr. Ravi Bhagat, and others were also present.

Team Maverick