Japan Strengthens Industrial Ties with India Through High-Level Visit to Dholera SIR
- Japan’s Ambassador Keiichi Ono led a high-level delegation to Dholera SIR, highlighting deepening Indo-Japan industrial ties.
- The delegation reviewed key infrastructure, including the Tata Electronics semiconductor plant and Dholera’s smart city facilities.
- The visit reaffirmed Dholera's position as a future-ready investment destination aligned with India’s Vision 2047.
In a major push to strengthen industrial cooperation between India and Japan, the Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. Keiichi Ono, led a high-level delegation of prominent Japanese companies on an official two-day visit to Dholera Special Investment Region (Dholera SIR) in Gujarat. The visit, held on July 9–10, 2025, underscores Japan’s growing interest in India’s greenfield smart industrial hub, which is a key project under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).
The delegation’s engagement began in Ahmedabad on July 9 with a conference aimed at promoting collaboration in innovation, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. The session featured key representatives, including Ms. Kazuko Sakuma, Resident Executive Officer & Regional Head for Asia Pacific, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); Mr. Yu Yoshida, Chief Representative, JETRO Ahmedabad; and Mrs. Mona K. Khandhar, Principal Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat.
Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, CEO & MD of the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), delivered the keynote address, highlighting the strategic Indo-Japan partnership and Japan’s continued support in shaping India’s industrial corridors. He emphasized how Dholera, modeled after Japan’s Tokyo–Osaka corridor, is becoming a hub for next-gen industries.
A special address by Ambassador Keiichi Ono concluded the session. He commended India’s forward-looking vision, particularly in the semiconductor and smart infrastructure sectors, reaffirming Japan’s commitment to supporting India's economic transformation. The evening wrapped up with a networking dinner that encouraged deeper dialogue among Indian and Japanese industry stakeholders.
On July 10, the Japanese delegation visited Dholera SIR to witness its infrastructure development firsthand. Accompanied by officials from Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd. (DICDL) and NICDC, the group toured several key infrastructure projects, including the Water Treatment Plant, Canal Front Development, Power Substation, the under-construction Tata Electronics semiconductor fabrication plant, and the ABCD Building, which houses the Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC) and the Experience Centre.
The delegation received a detailed briefing on the Tata Electronics semiconductor fabrication facility, being developed in collaboration with Taiwan’s Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC). This ambitious project is part of the Rs 1.54 lakh crore investment under the Semicon India Programme and is expected to transform India into a global semiconductor manufacturing hub.
Dholera’s vision goes beyond industrial infrastructure. The Japanese delegation also reviewed planned social infrastructure including a multi-specialty hospital, integrated school, fire station, hospitality zones, and residential and commercial complexes, aimed at making Dholera a fully livable and investor-ready city.
As India progresses toward its Vision 2047 of becoming a developed, innovation-led economy, Dholera SIR stands out as a model of futuristic planning and global collaboration. The Japanese visit reaffirms Dholera’s emergence as a strategic destination for advanced manufacturing and smart urban development.
