India, 2nd most desirable destination of FDI: Official

Chennai, Feb 12: Consul General of Japan Yoshiaki Kodaki today said India was listed as the second most desirable destination for Japanese FDIs.

Speaking at the summit on 'Going global to become SMEs of the future', organsied by Tamil Nadu State Council of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) here, the Japanese Bureaucrat said "apart from being the second most desirable destination to invest, India also has gradually become popular among Japanese companies as a favourable destination for FDIs".

"The Government of India has also expressed its interest in having Japanese companies invest in India for more growth of its Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)", he sid adding "in response to such expectation, Japan External Trade organisation (JETRO) has set up a business support centre in Delhi, as an incubator, to assist Japanese SMEs in making survey or prepration for starting up their business operations in India".

Mr Yoshiaki, who was here for one-day tour, also said four Japanese trade delegations, including Japan Economic Federation, Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kanasi Economic Federation and JETRO, were expected to vist India by next week.

"Most of the members of this delegation are from SMEs in Osaka Prefecture and they want to survey the possibility of starting up their FDIs in India and especially in Tamil Nadu", he said.

Mr Yoshiaki also underlined "JETRO will support the rural business and industrialisation initiative of the government of India, under its 'One Village One Produce' programme, initially through the implementation of a pilot project".

"The two governments will cooperate within the framework of Japan-assited Visionary Leaders of Manufacturing (VLFM) programme, under which Japanes manufacturing management and skills will be transferred to senior managers of Indian manufacturing industry", he said adding "Japanese private sector will continue its involvement in training and quality control and utilisatiion of training programmes of the Government of Japan".

UNI