Gujarat Dy CM Sanghavi holds 20 meetings in Tokyo to woo Japanese investors for Vibrant Gujarat Summit
Synopsis
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi packed 20 investor meetings into a single day in Tokyo — from Suzuki's EV plans and Tokyo Electron's semiconductor bets to JERA's clean energy pitch — making the most aggressive pre-summit Japanese outreach the state has mounted, with the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit squarely in his sights.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi held 20 meetings and 2 roundtable discussions in Tokyo on 21 October 2026 .
Key sectors pitched: electric vehicles , semiconductors , clean energy , speciality chemicals , and advanced manufacturing .
Major Japanese firms engaged include Suzuki Motor Corporation , Tokyo Electron , JERA , Sumitomo Chemical , Furukawa Electric , and Marubeni Corporation .
Government-level meetings held with Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone and METI Director General Kazushige Tanaka .
All companies were formally invited to participate in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit .
The visit is part of Gujarat's broader pre-summit investment roadshow targeting Japan as a strategic industrial partner.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi conducted a marathon investment outreach in Tokyo on 21 October 2026, holding 20 meetings and two roundtable discussions with Japanese government officials and industry leaders. The engagements focused on attracting Japanese capital into electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors, clean energy, speciality chemicals, and advanced manufacturing ahead of the next Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Key Meetings and Sectors Discussed
The Gujarat delegation met representatives from major Japanese corporations including Suzuki Motor Corporation, JERA, Tokyo Electron, Sumitomo Chemical, Furukawa Electric, and Marubeni Corporation. Other companies that participated included Honda Motor, JFE Steel, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, MUFG Bank, SMBC, and global live entertainment company Live Nation, among others.
In a meeting with Suzuki Motor Corporation president Toshihiro Suzuki, discussions centred on expanding automobile-related activities in Gujarat, developing the EV ecosystem, and establishing vendor parks. A separate roundtable was also held with Suzuki's vendors.
Semiconductor manufacturing took centre stage in talks with Tokyo Electron chairman Takeshi Okubo, covering equipment supply chains and potential investments in Gujarat's semiconductor hub. Clean energy opportunities were explored with JERA chief executive Izumi Kai, with discussions covering possible projects in Gujarat and the broader transition to cleaner energy.
Government-Level Engagements
On the diplomatic front, Sanghavi met Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with talks focusing on strengthening India-Japan relations and advancing bilateral strategic cooperation. He also held discussions with Kazushige Tanaka, Director General of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), on expanding bilateral trade, promoting investment, and improving policy coordination.
Notably, the delegation also met Iwate Prefecture Governor Takuya Tasso to discuss regional development, industrial policies, and capacity building — signalling outreach beyond Tokyo's central government to Japan's regional industrial ecosystems.
Chemicals, Textiles, and Infrastructure
Sumitomo Chemical president Nobuaki Mito was among those engaged on cooperation in speciality chemicals and petrochemicals. Potential investments in fibre-optic infrastructure, telecommunications, and advanced materials were explored with Furukawa Electric. The delegation also met Moririn Limited to explore textile technologies and the possibility of setting up manufacturing units in Gujarat.
Discussions with Marubeni Corporation's general manager of global planning and coordination, Kensuke Tatsukawa, covered global supply chains and trading projects in the state.
Gujarat's Pitch and What Comes Next
Throughout the engagements, the Gujarat delegation highlighted the state's industrial infrastructure, investment-friendly policies, and government support mechanisms. Japanese companies and investors were formally invited to explore opportunities to set up or expand operations in Gujarat and to participate in the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
This visit is part of a broader pre-summit investment roadshow, with the Gujarat government seeking to deepen industrial ties and build long-term partnerships with Japanese businesses. The scale of Tuesday's engagement — 20 meetings in a single day — underscores the state's aggressive push to position itself as Japan's preferred manufacturing and technology destination in India.
Point of View
Not just a diary entry. Gujarat's pre-summit roadshows have grown more targeted with each cycle — this one goes well beyond courtesy calls, pulling in semiconductor equipment suppliers, EV ecosystem players, and energy majors simultaneously. The real question is conversion: how many of these engagements translate into signed MoUs at the Summit, and how many of those MoUs translate into ground-breaking? Gujarat's record on Japanese investment conversion is strong relative to other states, but the competition from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana for the same Japanese capital has intensified sharply. The delegation's focus on vendor parks and supply chain integration — not just flagship plant announcements — suggests a more sophisticated pitch this time around.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Gujarat Deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi visit Tokyo?
Sanghavi visited Tokyo on 21 October 2026 to hold investment outreach meetings with Japanese government officials and industry leaders ahead of the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit. The visit aimed to attract Japanese investment into EVs, semiconductors, clean energy, chemicals, and advanced manufacturing in Gujarat.
Which Japanese companies did the Gujarat delegation meet?
The delegation met representatives from Suzuki Motor Corporation, JERA, Tokyo Electron, Sumitomo Chemical, Furukawa Electric, Marubeni Corporation, Honda Motor, JFE Steel, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, MUFG Bank, SMBC, and Live Nation, among others.
What was discussed with Suzuki Motor Corporation?
Discussions with Suzuki Motor Corporation president Toshihiro Suzuki focused on expanding the company's automobile-related activities in Gujarat, developing the electric vehicle ecosystem, and establishing vendor parks. A separate roundtable was also held with Suzuki's vendors.
What is the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit?
The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit is a biennial investment and business conclave hosted by the Gujarat government to attract domestic and global investment into the state. It brings together heads of state, industry leaders, and policymakers to sign investment agreements and explore economic partnerships.
Which Japanese government officials did Sanghavi meet?
Sanghavi met Japan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Yasutaka Nakasone at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, METI Director General Kazushige Tanaka, and Iwate Prefecture Governor Takuya Tasso, covering bilateral trade, investment policy, and regional development respectively.
