Investment Promotion Seminar for Maharashtra, India

September 2015

Welcoming Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the Indian state of Maharashtra, which is home to Mumbai—the country’s largest commercial city, JETRO held an investment promotion seminar focused on the state both in Osaka on September 9 and Tokyo on September 11. A total of 351 representatives attended both venues, mainly from manufacturing companies considering entry into this region. During the seminar, the start of applications for occupancy was announced for the Supa Industrial Park dedicated to Japanese firms, the first of its kind in Maharashtra.

In the Tokyo seminar, JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige emphasized the potential for Maharashtra, which is located at the center of the Deli-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, to serve as a hub toward promoting the “Look West” strategy that targets the west market spreading beyond India. He said that based on the memorandum of understanding concluded with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in April 2013, JETRO has provided support including conducting basic research and giving advice regarding the Supa Industrial Park and expressed his commitment to enhancing assistance for Japanese companies entering the state.

Ambassador of India to Japan Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa highlighted an upturn in the macro economy of her country since the beginning of 2015.

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Opening remarks by JETRO Chairman Ishige (Tokyo)

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Opening remarks by Indian Ambassador Wadhwa (Tokyo)

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Keynote speech by Maharashtra CM Fadnavis (Tokyo)

In his keynote speech, CM Fadnavis, who has taken initiative in developing infrastructure for his state, introduced the proactive approach his administration has adopted under the unique slogan “Make in Maharashtra”, which was set in line with the “Make in India” strategy promoted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that his state is an industrial center in India which constitutes 15% of the national GDP and has attracted 30% of total inward investment into the country, while most foreign-capital manufacturers in Maharashtra are auto companies from Europe and the US. He also expressed his hope to accelerate entry of Japanese companies through the “Japan Desk”, which the state government has recently established, as well as the Supa Industrial Park.

In the following presentations, Chief Executive Officer Bhushan Gagrani of the MIDC and Director-General Takehiko Furukawa of JETRO Mumbai gave a detailed explanation of the investment environment in Maharashtra and of the Supa Industrial Park respectively.

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Presentation by JETRO Mumbai Director-General Furukawa (Tokyo)

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Scene of seminar (Tokyo)

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Scene of seminar (Osaka)

Date Osaka: September 9, 2015 (15:00-17:00)
Tokyo: September 11, 2015 (13:00-15:00)
Venue Osaka: Hotel New Otani Osaka
Tokyo: Hotel New Otani Tokyo
Organizer
  • Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)
  • Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Government of Maharashtra, India
Co-organizer Osaka:
Embassy of India in Japan, Consulate General of India, Kansai Economic Federation, Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Wakayama Prefecture
Tokyo:
Japan-India Business Co-operation Committee (JIBCC), Embassy of India in Japan
Program (Tokyo)
Opening remarks
  • Mr. Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO, JETRO
  • Mr. Daisuke Saiga, Vice Chairman, Standing Committee of JIBCC
  • Mrs. Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Ambassador of India to Japan
Speech
  • Mr. Subhash Desai, Hon’ble Minister for Industries, Government of Maharashtra
Keynote Speech
  • Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, India
Presentation 1 FDI Climate in Maharashtra
  • Mr. Bhushan Gagrani, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, MIDC, Government of Maharashtra
Speech
  • Mr. Sudhir Mehta, Vice Chairman, CII
Presentation 2
  • Mr. Takehiko Furukawa, Director-General, JETRO Mumbai
Introduction to successful case of investment 1
  • Mr. Tota Kinoshita, General Manager, China Asia Pacific Operation Dept., Bridgestone Corporation
Introduction to successful case of investment 2
  • Mr. Atsushi Nakahara, Section Manager, Indian Business Support Office, Production and Procurement Department, Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd.
Q&A -
Closing -