India–Japan Relation

Investments Target: India and Japan are working on promoting a bilateral economic partnership, starting a digital partnership, and launching a mobility partnership covering railways, roads, and bridges across India. Investments targeted: 7–10 trillion Yen.

Prime Ministerial Summit: This will be Modi’s fifth visit to Japan, and his first summer summit with Prime Minister Kishida. Three broad elements of the visit are security, economy, science & technology, innovation, and people-to-people exchange.

Provincial Engagement: Modi will meet heads of provincial governments and prefectures to forge local-level partnerships between Japanese local governments and Indian state governments/municipalities.

Trade and Economy: The two sides will exchange notes on the global scenario, share their strategic outlook, and discuss the impact of US tariffs and uncertainty in Indo-Pacific security commitments.

Defence and Technology: India and Japan plan to enhance the 2008 Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation and assess advancements in defence and technology transfer. They are likely to launch an economic security initiative focusing on semiconductors, critical minerals, AI, telecommunication, and clean energy.

Economic and Scientific Cooperation: The economic and S&T domains will be framed as the “backbone” of bilateral ties. Japanese semiconductor investments will be scaled up, and Japan’s digital roadmap will be aligned with India’s digital initiatives.

Way Forward: A youth dialogue platform is expected to be launched under people-to-people exchange. This will help India’s youth skilling needs complement Japan’s aging population challenge.

Key Earlier Initiatives between India and Japan

Special Strategic and Global Partnership (2014): Upgraded during PM Modi’s visit to Japan, marking a deepening of defence, economic, and strategic ties.

Civil Nuclear Agreement (2016): India and Japan signed a landmark civil nuclear deal allowing Japan to supply nuclear technology, fuel, and reactors to India — first such deal signed by Japan with a non-NPT country.

Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC): Mega infrastructure project supported by Japan for industrial zones, smart cities, and logistics hubs.

Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Project (Bullet Train) (2017): Funded largely through low-interest Japanese loans, this is a flagship project of bilateral cooperation.

Defence Exercises:

• Dharma Guardian (Army) – annual military exercise.
• JIMEX (Navy) – bilateral maritime exercise.
• Malabar Exercise (with US, Australia) – strategic naval cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Japan–India Act East Forum (2017): An initiative aimed at advancing development in India’s North-East through infrastructure projects and skill enhancement programs.

India and Japan established a digital partnership in 2018, emphasizing collaboration in start-ups, IoT, AI, and 5G technologies.

Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) (2021): With Australia, India and Japan formed SCRI to diversify supply chains away from China.

Asia–Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC): India and Japan’s joint initiative to promote development projects in Africa, offering an alternative to China’s BRI.

Quick Facts:

• 2014: Special Strategic & Global Partnership
• 2016: Civil Nuclear Agreement (first with non-NPT state)
• 2017: Bullet Train + Act East Forum
• 2018: Digital Partnership
• 2021: Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI)

Exercises: Dharma Guardian, JIMEX, Malabar