Tokyo: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met Yasuhiko Hashimoto, President and CEO of Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), along with senior company officials, to explore new avenues for strengthening industrial and technology cooperation between India and Japan.
The discussions focused on opportunities to expand collaboration in robotics, hydrogen technology and heavy engineering, areas that are becoming increasingly important to India’s manufacturing and clean-energy ambitions.
Goyal highlighted the significant opportunities emerging from India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure sector and its transition towards cleaner sources of energy. He noted that Japanese companies with advanced technological capabilities and expertise in high-end engineering can play an important role in supporting India’s development goals.
India-Japan industrial partnership gains momentum
The engagement comes amid growing economic and industrial cooperation between India and Japan, with both countries encouraging greater investment, technology transfer and partnerships between their industries.
Japan has long been an important technology and investment partner for India, particularly in automobiles, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy and advanced engineering. Cooperation is now expanding into emerging areas such as hydrogen, robotics, artificial intelligence, clean technologies and resilient supply chains.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has expertise across a wide range of sectors, including transportation systems, energy, industrial equipment, aerospace and advanced engineering technologies. Its capabilities in hydrogen-related technologies are particularly relevant as India works towards developing a clean hydrogen ecosystem and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Focus on next-generation technologies
The meeting also reflects India’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with leading global companies in technologies that can support its transition towards high-value manufacturing and sustainable industrial growth.
Greater collaboration in robotics and automation could help enhance productivity and technological capabilities across India’s manufacturing sector, while partnerships in hydrogen technology could support the country’s broader green energy and decarbonisation objectives.
Goyal’s interaction with Kawasaki’s leadership underlines the growing focus on building long-term technology and investment partnerships between Indian and Japanese industries, with India’s infrastructure expansion and green-energy transition creating significant opportunities for Japanese companies.
The discussions are expected to contribute to efforts to further deepen the India-Japan strategic economic partnership through greater industrial cooperation, innovation and technology-driven investment.