On the second day of his visit to Japan to promote the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) in Gandhinagar from January 10 to 12, chief minister Bhupendra Patel met Susumu Kataoka, president of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), in Tokyo, and later travelled to Yokohama, where he met key officials and invited them to the summit.
Discussing JETRO’s role in bringing investors to Gujarat, the CM appreciated JETRO for opening its Business Support Centre in Ahmedabad to guide Japanese firms wanting to start businesses in Gujarat, an official statement said. Patel told Kataoka that JETRO’s partnership with Gujarat can help the state attract new investment to various sectors, such as semiconductors, green technology, bulk drugs, medical devices, ceramics and textiles. JETRO office-bearers also expressed keen interest in Gujarat’s development journey and said they are eager to strengthen relations with Gujarat.
The chief minister formally extended an invitation to Kataoka and others to attend VGGS. The delegation travelled to Yokohama city on a bullet train and held a meeting with the governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike. Patel told her about the role played by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in strengthening relations between India and Japan, the statement said. “Nearly 350 Japanese firms are currently operating in Gujarat,” Patel said and stressed that Gujarat and Japan can work closely on smart cities and sustainable urban development. A high-level delegation led by Patel reached Tokyo on Sunday morning to promote VGGS.