India, Japan to deepen eco relationship

New Delhi, Aug 20: Union government, business and industry bodies have drawn up a series of engagements for the 200-strong Japanese business and industry delegation reaching here tomorrow, ahead of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to deepen economic ties and explore enhancing of strategic relationship between the two nations.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce&Industry (FICCI) and Associated Chambers of Commerce&Industry (Assocham) in coordination with Commerce and Industry Ministry has organised a joint business meeting with Mr Abe on August 22. Mr Kamal Nath will deliver a special address and Mr Abe, keynote address on the occasion.

India-Japan Business Seminar will also held on Wednesday. It will addressed both by Mr Kamal Nath and Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Vice Minister, Mr Toyoda, Commerce Ministry said today.

Department of Industrial Promotion and Policy (DIPP) Secretary Ajay Shanker will give a presentation on 'Macro Business Environment in India and Opportunities for Investment,' while KPMG's CEO Russell Parera will speak on 'Investment Opportunities in Infrastructure'.

Japanse business honcho Hiroshi Maniwa will deliver lecture on 'Doing Logistic Business in India.' The Commerce Ministry said 'Investment Opportunities in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor' will also come up for discussion during the business meeting. Indian government has cleared the 90-100 billion dollar DMIC project which will come up along the 1,483 km Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) between two metro cities, offering high speed connectivity for high axle load wagons. The industrial corridor would have a depth of 150 km on either side of the DFC.

The industrial corridor project had been announced during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Japan in December last year. Its blueprint will be finalised during the visit of Japanese Prime Minister. Private sector from the two countries is expected to play a major role in the ambitious project.

Mr Kamal Nath will inaugurate on Wednesday India-Japan Business Leaders Forum which will also emphasise major role of private sector in strategic economic engagement between the two nations.

CEOs of Bharat Forge, Infosys, Moser Baer, Toyota Kirloskar and Wockhardt from the Indian side and heads of Canon, Hitachi, Mitsui , Mitsubishi, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co, Sumitomo Chemical Co, and Toyota Motor Corporation from Japanese side are expected to participate in the forum, Commerce ministry said.

Discussions will be held on 'Deepening of Economic Relations between Japan and India,' 'Expansion of Trade and Investment, Business Opportunities in India,' and 'Environment and Energy Saving' at the Forum. Leader of Japanese delegation Fujio Mitarai will address the Forum.

UNI