Japan open to Indian funds, says trade body

The Japanese government is ready to incentivise Indian companies, who are ready to invest in the country, especially in the areas of healthcare, Internet of Things (IoT)and knowledge-based industries.

In an interaction with Deccan Herald on Wednesday, as part of the Invest Japan Seminar 2016, organised by BCIC, Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Executive Vice President Shigeki Maeda said the country is looking forward to enhance investments from India.

“India has made substantial progress in healthcare, especially in generic medicine, and IoT and knowledge-based information and communication technology (ICT). We want companies in these sectors to invest in Japan so that they can tap the growing business opportunities,” he said.

Maeda said Japan is ready to associate with generic pharma industries and ICT companies. “We have already acquired a few companies, and some of them have invested in our country. We also want Indian investment to come into the  mineral, biotechnology, textiles, gems and jewellery, aerospace and food processing sectors,” he said.

“We are making Japan an attractive destination for investments from India. While the FDI from Japan in 2014, touched $13.6 billion, Indian investments in Japan reached merely $10 million. We are expecting an overseas investment of nearly $300 billion in our country by 2020,” he said.

When asked about attracting talent from India, he said that Japan is ready to ease visa norms for Indians. 

“We are looking forward to more Indians in Japan as we are faced with an ageing workforce. We already have more than 3,000 Indians, and plan to increase it manifold in the healthcare and ICT sectors,” he said.