Japanese cos prefer Indian talent

Japanese companies are looking at skilled workforce in Bengaluru as a driving factor to increase investments, Japanese Counsel General in Bengaluru, Jun-ichi Kawaue said.

“If Karnataka would provide us more and more talented IT engineers, we would be more than glad to invest here,” Kawaue told DH. His tenure in Bengaluru will end on February 11.

Japan has set a target for doubling the foriegn direct investment (FDI) and the number of Japanese companies in India by 2019. During 2015-16, FDI inflow from Japan to India stood at Rs 17,275 crore. “Hitachi, Toshiba and a few other companies already have their offshore R&D centres in Bengaluru,” he added.

Calling Toyota and Honda as poineers of Japanese investments in the state, Kawaue said that there are many Japanese automobile companies that are attracted towards Bengaluru as their preferred investment destination, adding that there are more than 100 Japanese firms in Bengaluru, including MSMEs and SMEs.

“But the scenario has changed recently. We are seeing a lot of electronic and motor companies that are flocking  Bengaluru. Recently, Mitsubishi Electric opened its facility in Bidadi. It produces traction inverters, motors and other electrical equipment for rolling stock in metro systems across the country,” he said.

Recently, Indo-Japan Skill Development Council was also launched in Bengaluru with focus on the agriculture sector.