Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday, 2 July said investments have been the cornerstone of India's partnership with Japan, and are poised to deepen further. Speaking at 'The Indo-Japan Strategic Dialogue' in New Delhi, Goyal outlined the breadth of bilateral ties spanning automobiles, infrastructure, trade, and skilled migration — even as the two nations prepared for the 16th India-Japan Summit, coinciding with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's arrival in Delhi.

Japan's Investment Footprint in India

Goyal pointed to Maruti Suzuki as the defining symbol of Japan's long-term commitment to India. 'Maruti Suzuki came to India nearly 40 years ago and brought modern, affordable, technology-driven automobiles, which ultimately set India on track to become a global power in the auto sector,' he said. The numbers bear this out: in May, Maruti Suzuki accounted for 1.47 lakh cars out of 4 lakh passenger vehicles sold across India — a market share that underscores the depth of Japanese industrial presence.

Trade: Beyond Raw Materials

Goyal described the trade relationship as genuinely multi-dimensional. India imports technology-intensive products from Japan while exporting precision-engineered goods in return. 'We are not selling raw materials or intermediates. We're selling Japan high-quality, precision-engineered material, auto components, and electronic components. So, this relationship has both trade and investment dimensions,' he said. He also cited Japan's role in building India's first dedicated freight corridor in Odisha, which facilitated iron ore evacuation — an early example of infrastructure partnership that has since expanded significantly.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Back on Track for 2029

One of the most high-profile symbols of the bilateral partnership is the 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, built using Japanese Shinkansen technology. Trains on the corridor are designed to run at 320 km/h, cutting travel time between the two cities from over six hours to just over two hours. Goyal acknowledged delays in the project but attributed them to the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra. He accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led administration of stalling land acquisition for political reasons. 'The MVA government, maybe out of spite for the people of Maharashtra, didn't allot land for key stations. We lost a lot of time in the process,' he said. With the BJP-led government now in power in the state, Goyal expressed confidence the project is back on schedule for the 2029 deadline. 'The land for the station has been given. My sense is the project is now on track,' he added.

Opportunities for Indian Professionals in Japan

Goyal also flagged a growing human capital dimension to the partnership. Japan's rapidly ageing population has created strong demand for skilled caregivers, and Goyal said Indian healthcare professionals are well-positioned to fill this gap — provided they invest in language and cultural preparation. 'Japan is looking for highly skilled caregivers. But one prerequisite, and rightly so, is that the person should know Japanese. Otherwise, how will they provide nursing care to the elderly in Japan?' he said. He added that proficiency in Japanese language and familiarity with Japanese culture would further strengthen an applicant's prospects.

What Comes Next

The 16th India-Japan Summit is expected to produce fresh commitments across infrastructure, technology, and skilled mobility. Goyal signalled that the government is actively encouraging deeper trade and investment flows. 'We encourage more trade and investments with Japan,' he said. This comes at a moment when India is recalibrating its global partnerships, and Japan — a long-standing strategic and economic ally — is increasingly central to that calculus.