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In Amritsar, Japanese envoy talks of tie-up in research

AMRITSAR: Japan’s Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu during his maiden visit to the holy city paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir, besides paying tributes to the martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh.

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 17

Japan’s Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu during his maiden visit to the holy city paid obeisance at the Golden Temple and Durgiana Mandir, besides paying tributes to the martyrs at Jallianwala Bagh.

He was accompanied by his wife Patrica Hiramatsu, former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar and CEO, Punjab Bureau Investment Promotion, Rajat Aggarwal.

They also visited the Partition Museum before proceeding to watch the high-voltage Beating the Retreat Ceremony at the Attari-Wagah border.

Kenji Hiramatsu said Japan and India’s collaboration look forward to more tangible outcomes in the future. “We are hopeful that our relationship will go to higher level with the second term of PM Modi. We hope to contribute in his vision like ‘Make in India’. We have special interest in research and skill development sector, many projects are already in the pipeline and discussions are on with his Cabinet ministers concerned. We look forward to support India as the most important economic and business partner in the world,” he said.

Japan has recently announced to invest Rs 13,000 crore in several ongoing and new projects in the Northeast states like water supply and sewerage project, road network connectivity improvement, technical cooperation project for sustainable agriculture and irrigation, bio-diversity and forest management project.

He said given the requisite assistance sought for business-to-business relationship, Japan would be keen to extend all possible financial and technical help for development in various fields in other states, including Punjab. “Discussions are still on for the execution of various collaborative projects. A couple of meetings have been held with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. We are waiting for what kind of assistance the state government extends to maintain business partnership in Punjab,” he said.

Rajat Aggarwal said the state government was very much keen to launch projects with Japan. “Punjab is keen to have collaboration with Japan in the field of electronics, auto components, food and skill development areas. Looking at this gamut, the dialogue is under progress with Japan. We are not into big announcements or signing MoUs. As per our industrial policy, we are tying up with serious investors. In the past 27 months, around Rs 48,000- crore investment has been planned in the state in partnership with international firms. has collaborated with International Tractors, which is world’s biggest firm. Similarly, Kansai Narolac plant is at Goidwal Sahib, Max Speciality Films have been operational with their plant at Morinda since May and Isuzu is into making prototypes of electric vehicles at Ropar,” he said.

Aggarwal said for skill development opportunities, he was visiting the ITI in Gurdaspur. Then endeavour was there to facilitate learning Japanese language courses to make people to people contact.

Former minister Ashwani Kumar said the India-Japan relationship was a diplomatic historic relationship for peace and security in Asia. “This is how the India-Japan relationship is defined and is treated as the defining relationship of the 21st century,” he said.

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