Gujarat Dy CM Harsh Sanghavi courts Japanese firms in Tokyo for textiles, green energy
Synopsis
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi is in Tokyo holding 11 back-to-back meetings with Japanese firms and state officials — from synthetic leather maker Ultrafabrics to chemical giant Kaneka and trading house Itochu — in a bid to line up fresh investment across textiles, green energy, and life sciences before the next Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Key Takeaways
Harsh Sanghavi , Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister, held meetings in Tokyo on 20 October 2026 to attract Japanese investment.
Key sectors targeted: textiles, chemicals, life sciences, green energy, cloud computing , and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) .
Companies engaged include Ultrafabrics Holdings, Kaneka Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Fujifilm Corporation, Yazaki India , and Green Carbon .
A bilateral meeting with Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki was scheduled, with an invitation to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit .
A total of 11 engagements were lined up across Tokyo and Shizuoka, including a textile industry roundtable .
The day concluded with a dinner hosted by the Indian Ambassador to Japan at India House .
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi held a packed series of meetings with leading Japanese corporations in Tokyo on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, exploring investment opportunities in textiles, chemicals, life sciences, green energy, cloud computing, and Global Capability Centres (GCCs) ahead of the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The visit is the latest in Gujarat's sustained overseas roadshow to attract foreign direct investment and deepen industrial partnerships with Japan.
Key Meetings and Sectors on the Table
Sanghavi met Yoshimura, President of Ultrafabrics Holdings, with discussions centred on investment prospects in synthetic leather and allied manufacturing sectors. Separately, he held talks with Isao Otsu, President of Kaneka Corporation, focusing on strengthening Gujarat's footprint in chemicals and life sciences.
Senior officials from Itochu Corporation's trading and green innovation business units were also engaged, with conversations revolving around green energy cooperation and international trade. The delegation additionally met representatives of Hireso to explore cloud computing infrastructure and the potential establishment of GCCs in the state.
Shizuoka Leg: Bilateral with Governor Suzuki
As part of the programme, Sanghavi was scheduled to travel by bullet train to Shizuoka for a bilateral meeting with Governor Yasutomo Suzuki at the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Building. The talks are expected to span industrial development, advanced technologies, and bilateral cooperation between Gujarat and Shizuoka. Sanghavi is also set to formally invite Governor Suzuki to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
More Engagements: Fujifilm, Yazaki and Carbon Credits
Upon returning to Tokyo, the Deputy Chief Minister was scheduled to meet representatives of Fujifilm Corporation to discuss electronic materials and diversified investment opportunities. Further discussions were planned with Yazaki India Private Limited, which operates in the automotive components sector, and with Green Carbon, a firm active in the carbon credit market.
Notably, a dedicated textile industry roundtable was also part of the itinerary, during which Gujarat's delegation was expected to present the state's textile ecosystem, its new textile policy, and export opportunities, encouraging Japanese companies to set up or expand operations in Gujarat.
Scale of the Visit
Across Tokyo and Shizuoka, a total of 11 engagements have been scheduled — comprising seven one-to-one meetings, two government-level bilateral engagements, a textile roundtable, and an official dinner. The day's programme was set to conclude with a dinner hosted by the Indian Ambassador to Japan at India House in honour of Sanghavi and his delegation.
This visit forms part of Gujarat's broader strategy to expand economic cooperation with Japan through investment, technology collaboration, and trade partnerships across multiple high-growth sectors. With the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit on the horizon, the state is clearly seeking to convert diplomatic goodwill into concrete commitments.
Point of View
Carbon credits, GCCs and green energy are not the usual FDI talking points, which signals the state is targeting niche Japanese industrial strengths rather than generic capital. The real question is how many of these one-to-one conversations translate into signed MoUs at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, where headline investment figures often outrun on-the-ground implementation. Japan-India industrial ties have historically moved slowly relative to announcement fanfare; the inclusion of carbon credits and cloud infrastructure suggests Gujarat is deliberately positioning itself for next-generation sectors, not just doubling down on legacy manufacturing. The state will need a credible post-summit follow-up mechanism to turn Tokyo momentum into factory floors.
NationPress
20 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi visiting Tokyo?
Sanghavi is in Tokyo to meet Japanese corporations and government officials and explore investment opportunities in textiles, chemicals, life sciences, green energy, and technology sectors ahead of the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The visit is part of Gujarat's strategy to attract foreign direct investment from Japan.
Which Japanese companies did Harsh Sanghavi meet in Tokyo?
Sanghavi met senior representatives of Ultrafabrics Holdings, Kaneka Corporation, Itochu Corporation, Fujifilm Corporation, Yazaki India Private Limited, Green Carbon, and a cloud computing firm called Hireso, among others. The meetings covered sectors ranging from synthetic leather and chemicals to automotive components, carbon credits, and cloud infrastructure.
What is the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit?
The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is a flagship investment summit organised by the Gujarat government to attract domestic and foreign investment into the state across multiple industrial and economic sectors. Gujarat uses international roadshows like the Tokyo visit to line up potential investors before the event.
What was discussed at the Shizuoka bilateral meeting?
Sanghavi was scheduled to meet Shizuoka Governor Yasutomo Suzuki at the Shizuoka Prefectural Government Building to discuss industrial development, advanced technologies, and bilateral cooperation between Gujarat and Shizuoka. He was also set to invite the governor to attend the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
How many meetings were scheduled during the Japan visit?
A total of 11 engagements were scheduled across Tokyo and Shizuoka, including seven one-to-one company meetings, two government-level bilateral engagements, a textile industry roundtable, and an official dinner hosted by the Indian Ambassador to Japan.
