Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi pitched the PM MITRA Park in Navsari district to more than 35 Japanese textile companies at a roundtable in Tokyo on 20 October 2026, inviting them to set up manufacturing units at the integrated textile park developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5F vision — Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign. The outreach formed part of a broader Gujarat government delegation visit to Japan that also included one-on-one meetings with seven companies and a high-level meeting with the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture.

PM MITRA Park: What Gujarat Is Offering

Sanghavi presented Navsari's PM MITRA Park as a plug-and-play destination offering integrated infrastructure, port connectivity, and policy support for manufacturers targeting both domestic and export markets. He highlighted Gujarat's end-to-end textile value chain — spanning cotton cultivation, yarn production, and Surat's established synthetic textile industry — as a strategic advantage for Japanese firms seeking a consolidated production base in India. Participating companies reportedly expressed interest in exploring investment opportunities, though no formal investment commitments were announced.

Steel, Chemicals and Green Innovation Also on the Agenda

Beyond textiles, the delegation's Tokyo engagements covered a range of industries. Sanghavi met Nippon Steel Corporation chairman Eiji Hashimoto and senior executives at the company's headquarters to discuss potential investment in precision steel manufacturing in Gujarat. Talks were also held with ITOCHU Corporation — one of Japan's major trading houses, tracing its history to 1858 with an established global textile business — on trade expansion and green innovation opportunities.

Other Japanese Firms Engaged

The delegation held discussions with several other prominent Japanese and international companies. Fujifilm Corporation, active in electronic materials, and Kaneka Corporation, operating in chemicals and life sciences, were among those engaged. Talks also covered Ultrafabrics Holdings, a synthetic leather manufacturer; Yazaki India, an automotive components firm; and Green Carbon, which works in carbon credits. All discussions centred on potential expansion and business opportunities in Gujarat.

Shizuoka Meeting and Industry Ties

Following the Tokyo engagements, Sanghavi travelled by Shinkansen to Shizuoka Prefecture, where he met Governor Yasutomo Suzuki. Discussions focused on deepening cooperation in industry, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. Shizuoka is home to Suzuki Motor Corporation, a long-standing industrial partner of Gujarat, lending added significance to the bilateral conversation.

What Sanghavi Said

'Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat has become Japan's most trusted partner in India. Japan's precision and Gujarat's scale together can create world-class textiles for the global market. The PM MITRA Park is ready to welcome Japanese industry, and every partnership we build here means more jobs for Gujarat's youth,' Sanghavi said.

The Tokyo visit reflects Gujarat's sustained push to attract Japanese investment across textiles, steel, chemicals, automotive components, and emerging green industries, with the Navsari park positioned as a flagship entry point for manufacturers seeking integrated production and market access.