Delhi-Kolkata freight corridor proposed with Japanese aid: Nath

New Delhi, Feb 8 (UNI) The Government is actively considering to build a Delhi-Kolkata railway freight corridor with Japanese assistance, according to Union Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

This follows the Japanese supported Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor on which the two countries were actively involved, Mr Nath told a 27-member Japanese delegation which called on him here last evening.

The Minister briefed the delegation on advances made by India in attracting record foreign direct investment (FDI) in the past three years and also mentioned the role played by the Japanese investor in Indian economy.

Japan is the fourth largest investor in India with cumulative FDI inflows from August 1991 to November 2006 amounting to 2,175 million dollars behind Mauritius, the US and the Netherlands.

Bilateral ties between India and Japan are set to get a further boost during the coming visit of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India.

Stressing the need for Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to further engage in the Indian growth story, he welcomed the role played by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in providing support services to the Japanese SMEs through their New Delhi office.

''A natural synergy exists between the young workforce of India and the technology and innovation of India. We need to exploit this further,'' he told the delegation comprising Japanese mediapersons and representatives of Suzuki Motors including its Chairman Osamu Suzuki.

Mr Nath also complimented Mr Suzuki for his contribution to Indian industry and described Suzuki Motors as the 'flagship of India-Japan relationship'.

Dr Ajay Dua, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, and Mr G K Pillai, Commerce Secretary, were present on the occasion.

UNI