GUWAHATI: Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Assam, signalling continued cooperation under India's Act East Policy despite the Japanese Prime Minister's upcoming visit to India not including the state.
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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, June 26, said he had held a telephonic conversation with Japanese Ambassador to India Ono Keiichi on Thursday evening, during which the Ambassador reiterated the Japanese government's commitment to deepen cooperation with Assam under India's Act East Policy.
Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration across key sectors including electronics, semiconductors, infrastructure, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
"In the coming days, Assam looks forward to engaging with Japanese enterprises and institutions to enhance both investments and economic opportunities for our people," Sarma said.
The development comes just days after the Chief Minister clarified that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will not visit Assam during her upcoming trip to India, ending speculation that Guwahati could host the annual India-Japan Summit.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Sarma said Takaichi's itinerary does not include Assam during her visit to India, scheduled from July 1 to 3. According to reports, the summit is now likely to be held in New Delhi owing to scheduling constraints and the Japanese Prime Minister's domestic commitments.
Despite the change in plans, Thursday's conversation signals that bilateral engagement between Japan and Assam continues to remain on track.
Japan has been one of the Northeast's key international development partners through the Act East Forum, a dedicated India-Japan mechanism focused on the region's development. The country has extended more than ₹1,600 crore in overseas development assistance for projects across the Northeast, excluding Arunachal Pradesh, and continues to support infrastructure and economic cooperation in the region.
