A formidable partnership with Japan

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Bhubaneswar: A seminar on Japan as part of the Make in Odisha Conclave 2018 was organised here Monday, the second day of the conclave, which deliberated on business and industrial growth between the nations.
The seminar was attended by key dignitaries, including Japanese Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu, state development commissioner R Balakrishnan, Indo Nissin Foods Pvt. Ltd MD Gautam Sharma, senior vice-president Sanjay Mundley of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Pvt. Ltd, Shiho Sakaguchi, R & D, Anew Holdings and Yoshiomi Yoshino, senior representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) among others.
“Just as Japan is the eastern gateway to Asia, Odisha is the eastern gateway to India. Our state is in discussions with Japanese industries keen to invest in Odisha and we have developed state-of-the-art infrastructure for the Japanese organisations to set up their establishments in Odisha. We have identified 665-acre land for the Japanese to set up their business just 20-km away from Bhubaneswar. We thank the Japanese team members who have attended the summit and extended their support for Odisha’s development.”
Japanese Ambassador Kenji Hiramatsu, said, “We appreciate the interest of Odisha to work with Japan and showcasing their warm welcome towards Japanese firms. Many missions from Odisha have visited Japan and highlighted the opportunities which the state has to offer to the Japanese firms. We are looking forward to expanding our partnerships with Odisha and we can work on several sectors to boost a collaborative business effort. Odisha can also assist Japan to fill up gaps in certain key sectors such as seafood industry and export of prawns to ensure supplies to Japanese consumers.”
A panel discussion, presided over by Gautam Sharma and attended by Sanjay Mundley, Shiho Sakaguchi and Yoshiomi Yoshino, centred upon the experiences of Japanese firms in Odisha.
Sharma said their company Nissin had set up an industry in Khurda in 2014. Odisha is the best place for doing business as it provides skilled manpower and has good road and rail connectivity, government support and is investment-friendly, he added.
Yoshiomi Yoshino said, “JICA has assisted 13 projects in the fields of water and sanitation, agriculture, power and forestry in Odisha. JICA has also provided an official development assistance (ODA) which amounts to 160 billion Japanese Yen (approximately INR 9,200 crore) for the development of various sectors in Odisha. JICA’s support to the power sector for sub-stations and transmission lines across Odisha has enhanced the stability of power system and reliability of supply and reduce transmission loss in the state. In the agriculture sector, JICA has helped increase farm production and improve the standard of farmers’ life through the Rengali irrigation project.