A high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh held a series of strategic meetings in Japan this week to boost foreign investments and industrial innovation. The delegation led by Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Vijay Kiran Anand, CEO of Invest UP, and Inderjit Singh, Director of UPNEDA, visited Japan this week. Uttar Pradesh is actively pursuing advanced collaborations with Japan in critical technology areas, including pharmaceuticals, rare earth magnet fabrication, semiconductor innovation, bio-engineering, electric mobility, and clean energy solutions. Their visit shows the government’s aggressive pursuit of high-value, knowledge-intensive investments aligned with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s vision of transforming Uttar Pradesh into an innovation-driven economy.
In Osaka, the delegation engaged in detailed discussions with the Kansai Pharmaceutical Industries Association (KPIA), where they met Director General Dr. Hayashi Yoshikazu and other senior representatives. The focus was on joint opportunities in new drug development, medical diagnostics, clinical research, and the manufacturing of medical devices.
The UP delegation showcased the ambitious plans, including the development of a dedicated Pharma and Medical Device Park, the Semiconductor Policy, and the FDI & FCI Policy 2023. KPIA expressed a keen interest in Uttar Pradesh’s proposals, particularly in the area of gene-altered medicines and bio-innovation. Discussions included the proposal to set up a Bio-Innovation Cluster in the state, paving the way for future technology transfer and collaborative research.
The delegation further visited Osaka’s National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) and NLAB, where Invest UP CEO Vijay Kiran Anand, along with Indian Consul General Chandru Apar, engaged in detailed discussions on Uttar Pradesh’s recently introduced Global Capability Centre (GCC) Policy. They showcased the state’s incentive framework designed to encourage global companies to establish technology and innovation hubs in Uttar Pradesh.
Strategic dialogue at these institutions also explored partnerships in high-tech EV battery manufacturing, testing infrastructure, and applied research, key elements for positioning Uttar Pradesh as a future-ready hub for clean mobility and industrial innovation.
In Tokyo, UP’s delegation met with Tanaka Electric Co. Ltd., a leading firm in rare earth magnet technology. The discussions revolved around the establishment of a manufacturing and R&D base in Uttar Pradesh focused on near-net shape rare earth magnet fabrication, a method that not only boosts performance but also significantly reduces energy and material wastage during production. Rare earth magnets such as Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) and Samarium-Cobalt (SmCo) are essential for critical sectors including wind turbines, military-grade drones, MRI machines, and electric powertrains.
The delegation presented compelling data on Uttar Pradesh’s mineral linkages, skilled technical workforce, and proximity to proposed defense industrial corridors, making the case for the state to become a rare earth processing hub in the Indo-Pacific strategic network.
At the Nakanoshima Qross Life Sciences Complex, key interactions took place with Asahi Intecc, renowned for catheter and endoscopic technologies, and Link-J, a platform that connects Japanese startups, corporates, and academia in the life sciences domain. These meetings opened avenues for medtech co-development, knowledge exchange programs, and startup soft-landing zones within Uttar Pradesh’s planned industrial clusters.
The state’s startup support infrastructure, including incubators and seed funding schemes under Invest UP, was highlighted as a fertile environment for Japanese medtech innovators looking to enter the Indian market.
Additionally, the meeting with Morabu Hanshin, a firm engaged in technical training and human resource development, explored the deployment of skill certification and exchange programs for Uttar Pradesh’s youth. There is growing interest from Japanese firms in recruiting technically trained Indian manpower, particularly in areas like tooling, robotics, and electronics assembly.
These multi-city engagements signal more than just investment interest, they reflect a shared strategic vision between Japan and Uttar Pradesh to build resilient, sustainable, and innovation-led industrial ecosystems. The visit also laid the groundwork for future Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in sectors that are vital to India’s strategic autonomy and clean tech transition.
The UP government is expected to soon formalize partnerships that will unlock technology transfer, joint venture models, and sector-specific pilot projects that can scale across other Indian states.
