Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi held two back-to-back roundtable meetings with 129 Japanese companies in Tokyo on 21 October 2026, advancing investment proposals spanning semiconductors, data centres, optical fibre cables, and automobiles. The visit is part of a state government delegation push to position Gujarat as Japan's preferred manufacturing destination in India.

Key Investment Proposals on the Table

The most significant proposal under discussion is Furukawa Electric's planned outlay of more than ₹4,500 crore in optical fibre cable manufacturing for data centres in Gujarat. The company is reportedly in the final round of discussions — and if concluded, the project would mark the first time Furukawa manufactures this product outside Japan, a significant vote of confidence in Indian industrial infrastructure.

Sumitomo Chemical has decided to establish a specialised chemicals unit for the semiconductor sector in Bhavnagar, while Tokyo Electron is in the final stages of talks on a separate semiconductor-related project in the state. Kyowa Leather has agreed to set up a plant to manufacture polyurethane (PU) leather, with the specific location expected to be confirmed within a month.

Honda Expansion and Suzuki Supply Chain

Expansion plans by Honda are expected to generate 4,000 new jobs in Gujarat by the end of 2027 or early 2028. Separately, a dedicated roundtable brought together 72 companies from Suzuki Motor Corporation's automobile supply chain, of which 24 expressed interest in setting up operations near Suzuki's manufacturing plant at Hansalpur on a fast-track basis.

This comes as Suzuki's annual car production in Gujarat has reached 10 lakh units and is expected to double to 20 lakh units in the coming years. Sanghavi also met Toshihiro Suzuki, President of Suzuki Motor Corporation, to discuss the company's operations and future expansion in the state.

Diplomatic Meetings and Bilateral Context

On the diplomatic front, Sanghavi held meetings with Japanese Foreign Affairs State Minister Nakasone Yasutaka and Iwate Prefecture Governor Takuya Tasso. He also met representatives of 11 major companies, including JERA, MUFG Bank, Marubeni, Sanrio, Meiraku, and Moririn, at a luncheon roundtable held at Hotel Imperial, Tokyo.

The delegation highlighted Gujarat's industrial land availability, port infrastructure, power supply, and streamlined project approvals as key advantages for incoming investors.

What Gujarat's Leadership Said

'When Japanese leaders think of India, they think of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The warmth and trust he built with Japan, from his days as Gujarat Chief Minister to his deep friendship with the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has made the state Japan's first choice in India,' Sanghavi said.

'Today, that trust is turning into factories, investment and jobs for Gujarat's youth, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel,' he added.

The proposed investments in optical fibre cables and semiconductor-related manufacturing are expected to support industries linked to data centres and artificial intelligence — sectors where India is aggressively building capacity. As discussions move to binding agreements, the pace of finalisation will determine whether this outreach translates into a landmark investment cycle for the state.