Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George expressed optimism for the rapid strengthening of economic ties between India and Japan during a lecture meeting organized by the Yomiuri International Economic Society. George emphasized the need for a significant leap forward in their relationship, rather than incremental progress.
In his keynote speech titled “Business in India: Today and Tomorrow,” the ambassador praised India’s recent economic development, highlighting its remarkable GDP growth rate of over 8% even after the COVID-19 pandemic. He also highlighted India’s young and skilled workforce as one of its strengths.
George described Japan as not just a partner but a crucial collaborator, stating that a powerful synergy could be created by combining Japan’s technological advantages with India’s vast market and skilled workers. He specifically mentioned renewable energy, semiconductors, and manufacturing as areas where this collaboration could lead to groundbreaking advancements.
The ambassador urged exploring possibilities for cooperation in advanced manufacturing, robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable technologies. He believed that together, India and Japan could redefine global standards in various industries and create solutions that would benefit not only their nations but also the entire world.
One specific goal mentioned by George was to increase the number of Japanese companies opening businesses in India from 1,500 to 15,000—a quantum leap. He expressed particular interest in attracting small and medium-sized Japanese companies.
Following his keynote speech, Tatsuo Yasunaga from Mitsui & Co., and Toshihiro Suzuki from Suzuki Motor Corp., joined Ambassador George for a discussion on human resource development and exchange between both countries. The ambassador highlighted India’s goal of increasing skilled workers in the semiconductor sector and expressed hope for collaboration with Japanese companies to address this need.
Ambassador Sibi George conveyed strong optimism about deepening economic ties between India and Japan while emphasizing their potential for creating powerful synergies through collaboration across various industries.
