India and Japan: News and Discussion

Yogi_G · Post by **Yogi_G** » 29 Dec 2011 18:36

Just curious, has anyone read about the Japanese landlords denying rental permissions to Desis in the aftermath of the 98 nucklear bum explosions? Anyone experienced it personally?

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 29 Dec 2011 19:53

Suppiah wrote:Interestingly Jap women are far more backpacking / adventurous type, may be GOI should target them to enhance understanding.

Korean women are still into the Western boyfriend stuff. Japanese have been up there quite a long time. Japanese women are willing to look around and see what can give them the fun and the kicks.

I think it is time for a Bollywood film to cast a Japanese girl as the main heroine.

Here is a little forum discussion on Japan Today.

Hari Seldon · Post by **Hari Seldon** » 29 Dec 2011 20:19

There's an old Jewish saying "When you have money you are handsome, charming, intelligent and you even sing well too."

Des is far away from collecting such clout. We'll get there someday perhaps but in a generation the relative geopol scales will have tipped much more than per capita income ones, I guess.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Dec 2011 10:25

India-Japan Relations - Edit in The Hindu

The determined effort by India and Japan to inject life into their bilateral relationship is showing positive results. The meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Japanese premier Yoshihiko Noda, the sixth of the annual India-Japan summits, is a marker of the steady progress. It yielded the first official confirmation since Japan's devastating tsunami-earthquake-Fukushima meltdown that the country has not shut the door on a civilian nuclear deal with India. While Mr. Noda stressed the importance of learning the right lessons from Japan's nuclear accident, it appears that negotiations on a deal to assist India develop peaceful nuclear energy will continue. His pledge of $4.5 billion over the next five years for the development of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, a commitment of financial assistance for two more infrastructure projects — Phase 3 of the Delhi Metro and a biodiversity conservation project in West Bengal — and his interest in sharing high-speed railway technology with India are significant. Japan's enhancement of its currency swap arrangement from $3 billion to $15 billion will help India better manage the rupee's slump against the dollar. This should also boost financial cooperation and economic and trade ties, which are currently far below potential. The Indian side wants more Japanese investment. For its part, Japan, which has just lifted a longstanding ban on the export of weapons, will be looking to sell defence hardware to New Delhi.

Prime Minister Noda's visit capped a year of intense bilateral activity. The Foreign Ministers held a strategic dialogue in October, followed by talks between the defence ministers. In February, the two sides signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement covering trade in goods as well as services; it came into effect in August. Earlier this month, India, Japan, and the United States held their first trilateral strategic dialogue. It is creditable that despite the political instability in Japan, and the scandal-induced paralysis in India, both countries managed to fit in these high-level exchanges. It is crucial that growing India-Japan ties are viewed independently of each country's relations with China. New Delhi and Beijing are engaged in improving relations at various levels, including trade, eventually aiming to amicably resolve the boundary question. China is Japan's biggest trading partner; the two have a bilateral trade of $340 billion that neither can afford to endanger. The fears expressed in a section of China's news media that Mr. Noda's visit is part of a “containment strategy” aimed at Beijing are needless. The Chinese government has done well to play them down.

vera_k · Post by **vera_k** » 02 Jan 2012 09:27

Think the clip is saying that pet giraffes are allowed in Japan.

Japanese pet giraffe

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 11 Jan 2012 08:59

TN partners Ascendas and Japanese Consortium for a Rs. 3500 Crore City in Chennai

Japanese investments into Tamil Nadu are set to get a boost with the State Government entering into an agreement with the Singapore-based developer Ascendas and a Japanese consortium to promote a Rs 3,500 crore industrial township near Chennai.

A business support centre is also to be set up to facilitate Japanese investments into the State.

The 1,500-acre township to come up on the Old Mahabalipuram Road, to the South of Chennai, to be developed over five years will have a manufacturing zone, commercial, residential, and institutional and social infrastructure facilities. The project has a potential to attract investments of over Rs 15,000 crore and generate 40,000 jobs. The State Government will facilitate the implementation of the project.

Over a third of Japanese investments into India are in Tamil Nadu where 286 major Japanese companies have established a base.

The Chief Minister, Ms J. Jayalalithaa said that Tamil Nadu has constituted a Joint Working Committee in line with the suggestions made by the Japanese Ambassador to India, Mr Saiki, who had visited Chennai in September last year. The committee will facilitate dialogue on social developmental issues, cultural and education exchanges, improving investment climate and infrastructure development.

To specifically address the needs of the Japanese companies, a study to set up a Northern Port Access Road to improve infrastructure around Ennore Port. The port dredging works are also being expedited.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 28 Jan 2012 21:13

India, Japan, South Korea join hands to avert European crisis damage in Asia

The united efforts of the three major Asian economies were shared with the delegates at the World Economic Forum meeting by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. Noda's announcement was followed by IMF chief Christine Lagarde warning euro crisis could spill over to other regions. "Japan is already working with South Korea and India to reduce the risk of the crisis spreading to Asia," Noda told WEF through a video-link from Tokyo, last evening.

Pointing out that Europe's crisis could be a major risk for the global economy, he said, "Japan stands ready to support the Eurozone as much as possible." In another session today, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said, "No one is immune in the current situation... It is a crisis that could have collateral effect, spillover effect around the world. Everybody has an interest to solve this situation".

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 29 Jan 2012 09:09

What makes India a much bigger market for Japan Inc - Economic Times

Consider these three data together. First, compared to 100,000 Japanese expats in China, India hosts just 4,000. Second, this week, Japan recorded its first trade deficit in 31 years; exports were short of imports by $30 billion. Third, in 2011, car sales in Japan fell, yes, fell by 15%.

What do these numbers taken together mean, specifically what do they mean for India? Japan Inc's presence in India is still small but Japan's current trade and economic factors are set to change that.

You can see the first big signs of Japanese businesses new big push in India. NTT Communications acquired Netmagic Solutions and Nomura Research has acquired Anshin Software and Market Xcel Data Matrix respectively. Panasonic has bought out Indian brand Anchor Electricals.

Dentsu has raised its stake in its Indian venture to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary. Companies like JTB are making their Indian debut by setting up offices here and some like Nippon Life are buying minority stakes in Indian companies like Reliance Capital AMC.

Not surprisingly, therefore, earlier this week, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) received the biggest ever business delegation from Japan. Some 80 Japanese business heads were here. And, yes, the 4,000 Japanese expats in India does look a small number compared to the Japanese presence in China. But the Japanese expat population in India has doubled in the past two years.

And the number of Japanese companies doing business in India has jumped. "In the past two-three years the number of Japanese companies here has doubled," says Gajendra Badgujar, deputy director, Ficci. There are now 1,000 Japanese companies in India.

In 2008-09 and 2009-10, Indo-Japanese trade was stuck at around $10 billion. In 2010-11, the figure moved up to $14 billion. Bilateral trade is likely to cross $16 billion in 2011-12, and the target for 2014-15 is $25 billion, according to Ficci.

Japanese companies like Japanese managers to head their foreign operations. Look at Suzuki. It's been in India for so long, but it's still more comfortable with a Japanese heading its biggest foreign operation. In this, the Japanese are like the Koreans, and unlike most Western MNCs.

Another very Japanese characteristic is that most expat managers don't bring along their families. Japan Inc watchers say just 30% of the Japanese expats in India have brought their families. No family means no need to set up homes. Most Japanese executives of Maruti Suzuki live out of hotels.

This reluctance to set up homes may be explained by cultural complexities, language barriers and the very different food in India, say Japanese expats. Nikon's Takashina, who in contrast to most Japanese expats is comfortable speaking in English, says "things have become better in the past three years. There is a Japanese supermarket now in NCR". For him, that's a sure sign that Japan Inc is making big plans.

More and more Japanese managers shopping for home-sourced comfort food in India while setting up more and more manufacturing and service shops here, that may be the positive business future India and Japan are looking at.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Jan 2012 14:21

India-Japan Coastguard joint exercise

Chennai: A mock drill on the deep seas by the Indian and Japan Coast Guard units on Sunday demonstrated the inherent capabilities of the two forces to jointly counter a range of maritime threats in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Indo-Japan Coast Guard Joint Exercises, which alternates between India and Japan every year, was organised off the Bay of Bengal where fleets headed by the newly-commissioned Indian Coast Guard vessel Vishwast and the Japanese ship Settsu simulated a range of search-and-rescue, pollution control and anti-piracy operations.

The joint exercise named “Sahyog-Kaijin-XI” was supervised by ICG Director-General Vice-Admiral M. P. Muralidharan and his Japanese counterpart Admiral Hisayasu Suzuki, Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard. The Commander Coast Guard Region (East) Inspector General S.P. Sharma and a delegation from the Singapore Information Sharing Centre of the regional cooperation agreement to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea and a group of journalists were also among those who witnessed the exercise.

The drill that formed part of initiatives between the two Coast Guards framed out in a Memorandum of Understanding dating back to November 24, 2006, began with a pollution response demonstration featuring a helicopter operation, during which spraying in undertaken to contain an oil spill.

A vertical replenishment sortie, mail transfer and search-and-rescue drill followed. One of the high points was a dramatic anti-piracy operation in which bright orange hand-flares are created to mark out the hijacked ship for the storming operation to follow where hovercrafts are deployed to round off the ship and commandos on a smaller boat break into the vessel in distress.

The fleet deployed for the near two-hour exercise included 11 surface units — Coast Guard ships Sagar, Sarang, Vigraha, Vajra, Rani Abbakka, Sarojini Naidu and Priyadarshini — high-speed interceptor boats C-151 and C-146, hovercraft H-151 and H-181 and six air units comprising three Dornier aircraft and three Chetak helicopters.

Later, addressing the media both Coast Guard chiefs stressed the value of the joint exercise in patrolling, search-and-rescue and anti-piracy and anti-terrorist operations in the region.

Mr. Hisayasu Suzuki stressed the growing importance of the cooperation between the Coast Guards especially as Somali pirates were expanding operations into this region. In fact, the association between the two units dates back to a piracy incident in 1999, when the Japan-flagged ship MV Alondra Rainbow, hijacked by pirates and repainted as MV Mega Rama, was apprehended by Indian Coast Guard in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 31 Jan 2012 01:00

The Japanese Government Has A Shocking Forecast For National Population Shrinkage

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-japa ... z1kyJMdGrL

reports that the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research predicts the Japanese population will shrink by two thirds (!) by 2110. About a third of the population will disappear by just 2060.
The group also forecasts an increase in life expectancy from 86.39 years to 90.93 years.If demographics is destiny, and a high dependency ratio spells doom for the economy, well then... yeah, this is trouble.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 07 Feb 2012 16:48

Japanese firms see new sunrise in India

Of late, there has been a massive surge of Japanese business interest in India. Around 200-300 firms from the island nation, including multi-million dollar companies Hitachi Medical and Asahi Beer, are actively looking to set up base in this country.

With an aging population at home and a contracting market, after China, India is seen as the next logical growth area for the Japanese industry, say industry observers.

“Most of the Japanese companies are now interested in the Indian market, because it is a big country and they see a huge potential for the future. Previously, the investment climate was not as good, but now, the Indian Government is trying to relax some policies,” Mr Masaki Ida, Chief Director-General, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), New Delhi, told Business Line.

As of October last year, 812 Japanese firms were in India, with 1,422 separate investments, such as branches, warehouses and factories.

Preference for India

Though most Japanese companies already have Chinese operations, the poor intellectual property protection regime and mandatory joint venture rules make it hard to conduct business there, an industry expert added. Hence the growing preference for India, with which Japan has historically shared close cultural and business relations.

The Indo-Japan Free Trade Agreement that came into effect last August also holds promise. It aims to eliminate import duties on 94 per cent of the trade items in 10 years, giving a boost to bilateral trade which is expected to touch $25 billion by 2015 (from about $12 billion in 2010).

Mr Ravi Avalur, Partner and Vice-President, Tecnova India, said that 2-3 years ago, around 600 Japanese companies had an India operation, which has now more than doubled.

New sectors

Tecnova specialises in India market entry strategy for multinationals and is working with a variety of Japanese firms in this regard.

“There is a sense of renewed business interest from Japan. Till now, sectors such as auto and electronics had Japanese presence,
,” he said.

Meanwhile, Japanese funding support for ongoing domestic infrastructure projects such as the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and $90 billion Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is viewed as an ideal collaborative opportunity. While Japan's expertise in Railway systems is expected to be utilised in the DFC, firms from the country are also reportedly looking to set up manufacturing facilities in the DMIC.

Kailash · Post by **Kailash** » 14 Feb 2012 12:48

Growing Indo-Japan Ties with an Eye on China

member_20617 · Post by **member_20617** » 14 Feb 2012 19:37

India – China trade is probably around $70 billion now and set to rise to $100 billion in next few years.

In comparison, India – Japan trade is projected to grow to only $25 billion. It can easily be taken to at least $100 billion mark in next few years.

I don’t know what is stopping this growth which is beneficial to both countries.

PS: Jai Mata Ji! I am a BRfrite now!

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 15 Feb 2012 06:40

Understanding Japan's Complexities - Ms. Rasheeda Bhagat in BusinessLine

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 15 Feb 2012 06:50

X-post from the Railways Thread
Japan keen on high-speed freight train between Bengaluru and Ennore

gunjur · Post by **gunjur** » 23 Apr 2012 16:05

India,Japan to talk on cooperation in Asia-Pacific

Tokyo will host the second India-Japan-US trilateral dialogue, the first such meeting after Washington announced its strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific in January 12

Officials say they will also discuss ways of cooperating in the East Asia Summit, an increasingly powerful regional body. In 2005, Japan had lobbied successfully for including India in the East Asia Summit.

What could be on the cards, though, is India’s first-ever aircraft procurement from Japan. The Indian Navy is evaluating the Shinmaywa US-2 amphibious aircraft; a short take-off and landing (STOL) amphibious aircraft that can take off from either land or from water with 18 tonnes of load. Its range of 4,700 kilometres reaches across vast tracts of ocean, performing multiple tasks: humanitarian aid, disaster relief, search and rescue, as well as military logistical activities.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 27 Apr 2012 04:51

India-Japan strategic dialogue next week.

India and Japan are expected to hold ‘strategic dialogue’ next week, with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba scheduled to visit India on April 29. He will be accompanied by a deputy minister from Japan’s ministry of economy, trade and industry who will hold the ‘economic dialogue’ between the two countries.

Sources told The Indian Express that External Affairs Minister S M Krishna would meet Gemba on April 30 for the strategic dialogue. It is learnt that the Japanese government is waiting for the approval of Diet, Japan’s parliament, for the trip to Delhi.

The format of both dialogues are on the same pattern that India-China have between their foreign and economic ministries. In the strategic dialogue, the discussions will be focussed on the political and strategic ties of the two countries. In this context, the conversation will also deal with the proposed civilian nuclear cooperation agreement, being negotiated between the two countries.

In fact, the two sides have had several ‘informal’ discussions in the past four months, ever since PM Manmohan Singh and Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda met in Delhi in December and directed negotiators to exert further efforts towards a conclusion of the Agreement.

Arav · Post by **Arav** » 27 Apr 2012 05:03

Japan has good influence in SE Asia and now is funding heavily in Mekong Area. India & Japan can cooperate on Myanmar, it is financing various projects where India also has considerable interest. We can provide security to Japanese vessels transporting oil from persian gulf through Indian ocean. As most Insurers & Reinsurers are based in Europe, due to latest sactions on Iranial oil, India, Japan, South Korean shipping companies are facing hurdles to insure vessels transporting. These 3 countries can countries can cooperate on this insurance thing.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 03 May 2012 00:59

India and Japan Work Together on Maritime and Cyber Security
http://news.softpedia.com/news/India-an ... 7406.shtml

India’s Foreign Minister S M Krishna and his Japanese counterpart Koichiro Gemba have revealed the countries’ plans to collaborate on improving the cyber and maritime security.According to the Times of India, the details regarding the cyber security measures haven’t been made public, but as far as the maritime sector is concerned, joint naval exercises are already announced for June, near the Japanese coast. “We will discuss maritime affairs with a special focus on maritime security,” Gemba explained.
Japanese and Indian officials also discussed the possibility to collaborate in the civil nuclear department, but apparently there are a number of issues that need to be addressed before anything certain can be established.Whatever the countries have planned for the cyber security sector, it probably won’t be anything as drastic as what we’ve seen with China, which seems to want to take out US satellites by using microwave pulses.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 03 May 2012 01:16

NEW DELHI -- India has agreed in principle to supply Japan with roughly 15 percent of its annual rare earth needs.
While Japan warns Chinese ships near Senkaku Islands

Japan's Coast Guard has issued a warning to 2 Chinese surveillance ships seen near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

The coast guard spotted one of the Chinese ships on Wednesday morning cruising about 30 kilometers west-northwest of Uotsuri Island. Another was spotted an hour later about 38 kilometers northwest of the island.

The ships were close to Japanese territorial waters and were warned by radio not to enter. The coast guard says one of the ships responded saying it was patrolling Chinese waters. China disputes Japanese ownership of the islands.

This is the 4th time this year that Chinese surveillance ships have appeared near the Senkaku Islands. Last month, Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara revealed a plan for the Metropolitan government to buy the islands from a private owner.

Roperia · Post by **Roperia** » 05 May 2012 03:19

Video 'Indo-Japan ties have huge potential'

Japanese FM's interview.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 12 May 2012 15:34

Japan, China, S.Korea to mull FTA talks

Trade ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea are expected to agree to start negotiations on a trilateral free trade agreement by the end of this year.

The ministers are to discuss economic cooperation in Beijing on Saturday afternoon ahead of the summit of the 3 nations' leaders in the Chinese capital on Sunday.

Japan's Trade Minister Yukio Edano plans to call on Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming and South Korean Trade Minister Bark Tae-ho to launch the free trade talks this year.

Chen and Bark are expected to agree to the proposal on the grounds that the pact will strengthen ties among the 3 countries.

The 3 ministers will also likely agree to work for an early start of negotiations on a regional economic cooperation framework encompassing up to 16 nations.

Among the nations are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and India, along with Japan, China, and South Korea.

The ministers are to issue a joint statement at the end of the meeting. The statement is to be presented to the next day's summit.

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/20120511_21.html

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak are due to meet in Beijing on Sunday.

On Friday, Noda's cabinet approved Japan's signing of the 3 nation's investment pact during the summit.

The agreement is expected to better protect the rights of Japanese companies investing in South Korea and China.

Gemba told reporters on Friday that he wants the investment pact to serve as a springboard for the 3 nations to reach the next stage -- a trilateral Free Trade Agreement.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 17 May 2012 23:46

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/b ... onomy.html
Japan's economy grows 4.1 percent amid recovery

Japan's economy grew an at annual rate of 4.1 percent in the first quarter amid a gradual recovery from last year's catastrophic earthquake and tsunami.
The Cabinet Office said Thursday that the preliminary growth figures showed that a rebound in consumer spending was lifting the world's third-biggest economy.After the March 11 disaster last year, many Japanese were in mourning and stayed away from stores, theaters and pubs. That compounded the damage from disruptions to manufacturing in northeastern Japan, where many auto and electronics plants ground to a halt, and other parts of the country.The latest data showed that private consumption grew at an annual rate of 4.4 percent. Consumer spending makes up more than half of Japan's economy."The numbers show a solid Japanese economic recovery," said Satoshi Osanai, economist at Daiwa Institute of Research in Tokyo.

arun · Post by **arun** » 15 Jun 2012 07:29

X posted from the “Indian Nuclear News and Discussion 4 July 2011” thread.

Toshiba Corporation’s US subsidiary Westinghouse Electric Company LLC press release announcing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing to negotiate an Early Works Agreement (EWA) supporting future construction of AP1000® nuclear power plants at the Mithivirdi site in Gujarat:

Westinghouse And Nuclear Power Company Of India Limited Sign Memorandum Of Understanding For Early Works Agreement

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 27 Aug 2012 08:35

Japan to invest in Chennai-Bangalore industrial corridor (CBIC)

The plan currently includes a dedicated rail freight corridor besides solutions to address the private sector’s complaint of bad roads, poor access to ports and frequent blackouts.

The key projects will include Phase II of the Chennai Outer Ring Road and the Chennai-Bangalore Expressway, the upgrade of airports in Chennai, Bangalore and Sriperumbudur and ports in Chennai and Ennore, a high-speed rail between Chennai and Bangalore and the Avadi rail link.

The Prime Minister’s Office will be involved in pushing through reforms in “soft infrastructure” such as the cumbersome customs procedures, limited use of IT and automation and imposition of Central Sales Tax.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 11 Oct 2012 09:06

India to test-run Japanese green projects - The Hindu

In the second interaction of its kind this year, India has agreed to test-run Japanese projects intended to improve or utilise the country’s basic energy resources such as coal and water.

During the India-Japan Energy Dialogue, which took place in Japan on Wednesday, the two sides also discussed the possibility of technological cooperation in the difficult-to-extract gas hydrates, touched on the possibility of developing an almost carbon-free integrated gasification combined cycle project in India and reviewed ongoing renewable energy projects, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia told The Hindu from Tokyo.

Japan is heavily involved in Indian energy efficiency projects of varying sizes and depending on their performance, its companies could vie for orders that have been on offer to improve the performance of the existing plants relating to Coal India Limited’s plans to spend Rs. 5,000 crore on better technologies for coal washeries.

With ash content rising as Indian coal mines age, washeries can remove the impurities — estimated at about half of the coal volume — thus reducing the energy that the railways have to spend in haulage, explained Mr. Ahluwalia. In this respect, the forum called for the renewal of the memorandum of understanding that would facilitate the utilisation of a high-efficient washery technology by Monnet Ispat.

India showed interest in a mini-hydel project that generates electricity with a two-metre drop, which is the usual depth in canals here.

The meeting also took stock of a 5 MW solar plant which, if highly scalable, could be a major source of energy for the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor’s “smart cities.” All these concepts are currently on the drawing board.

The pending civil nuclear agreement was not discussed, said an official involved in the talks but separately India made a presentation on its plans for expanding civil nuclear energy generation. The presentation was made to an audience consisting largely of those from the private sector.

Companies based in Japan control some critical component technologies and invariably stand to gain when orders are placed on most leading nuclear power plant makers.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 13 Oct 2012 10:51

SriCity offers ready-built factory space for Japanese firms

Sri City, the 5,000-acre integrated business city at Tada to the north of Chennai, has launched ready-built factory space to attract Japanese small and medium enterprises.

The business city has earmarked 300 acres exclusively for Japanese companies and is tailoring the specifications to the needs of Japanese investors. The area is also being expanded to 500 acres following the interest evinced by Japanese companies. All clearances will be in place and the investors will simply have to come in and set up shop.

Japanese investors are keen on South India as it gives them access to the markets here and export to South-East Asia and other parts of the globe. However, the initial stages of setting up shop in India can be daunting for those unfamiliar with the systems here. Sri City has addressed this issue along with its ready built space that will offer plug and play option.

Shinya Fujii, Director-General, Japan External Trade Organisation in Chennai, said such ready-made factories were in vogue in Thailand, a major automobile industrial hub in South-East Asia. Over 36 industrial estates house over 2,000 such factories and the ready-built inventory is estimated at 1.76 million sq.m.

Insufficient guidance from local authorities, delay in statutory clearances are major issues that need to be addressed to encourage Japanese investments. Companies are keen on investing in South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, he said.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 18 Oct 2012 07:23

India-Japan to hold second 2+2 dialogue on Monday - The Hindu

India and Japan will hold their second 2 + 2 dialogue on Monday in Tokyo involving the Foreign and Defence Secretaries of both sides in the run-up to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Japan in mid-November, say government sources.

India employs the 2 + 2 format only with Japan to address cross-cutting security and foreign policy issues such as maritime security, cyber security and space, which will be the focus areas during the visit by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma.

The maiden 2 + 2 India-Japan interaction was held in July 2010. The intention was to make it an annual event but the meeting could not be held last year due to scheduling problems.

After holding the 2 + 2, the two Secretaries will peel off to hold more specialised interactions. Mr. Mathai will first hold Foreign Office Consultations, which will be followed by consultations with the Japanese Vice Foreign Minister. Separately, Mr. Sharma will co-chair the India-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue.

The Foreign Office consultations will focus on the deliverables that could emerge from next month’s meeting between Dr. Singh and his Japanese counterpart, Yoshihiko Noda. They will also review and suggest course-corrections, if any, of several ongoing mega projects such as the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor besides exchanging views on the Japanese Overseas Development Assistance component, a big chunk of which accrues annually to India.

The meeting will also consider the political aspects of the relationship by discussing the possibility of the Japanese Defence and Foreign Ministers paying return visits to India. India is aware of the elections announced in Japan but would still like some clarity on such visits.

And, Commerce Secretary S.R. Rao is already in Tokyo for a review of the India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Saurabh Chandra too is in Japan as the head of the inter-Ministerial DMIC Task Force.

LNG pricing

Their visits were preceded by the second India-Japan Energy Dialogue this year, which was headed from the Indian side by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. One of the major decisions taken at the interaction was the resolve expressed by both countries to end the liquefied natural gas (LNG) discriminatory pricing formula for Asian countries vis-à-vis European nations.

Japan, the largest LNG consumer in the world, and India, the fifth largest, are upset that most of the LNG from the Gulf, mainly Qatar and Oman, is sold to the West at half the price at which it is sold to Asian countries. “It will be a big achievement even if we manage to reduce the gas price for Asian countries like ours by 20 per cent,” say government sources.

While the Prime Minister’s visit is the ostensible reason for the flurry of high-level meetings, a government source said India was hoping for some Japanese investment and projects to flow towards India due to Tokyo’s tension with Beijing.

At the same time, the source pointed out that though the previous Tokyo visit by Dr. Singh in 2010 also took place at the time of China-Japan tensions, all deliverables announced at that time were largely driven by economic consideration rather than geo-political tensions.

Another source was pessimistic about civil nuclear talks with Japan making progress even though other joint initiatives have taken off. {We should not get stuck on the nuclear issue, but move on in other areas. Fukushima, election and political instability in Japan are not going to allow any quick decision.} “We are badly stuck on a couple of points because of the situation post-Fukushima. There are some initiatives that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan just cannot take,” he said.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 19 Oct 2012 03:38

Toyota is in this position today and has only a marginal share as its product line is dated compared to Hyundai which treats the tastes of Indian consumers with more respect.

Rishirishi · Post by **Rishirishi** » 21 Oct 2012 04:57

SSridhar wrote:What makes India a much bigger market for Japan Inc - Economic Times
Consider these three data together. First, compared to 100,000 Japanese expats in China, India hosts just 4,000. Second, this week, Japan recorded its first trade deficit in 31 years; exports were short of imports by $30 billion. Third, in 2011, car sales in Japan fell, yes, fell by 15%.

What do these numbers taken together mean, specifically what do they mean for India? Japan Inc's presence in India is still small but Japan's current trade and economic factors are set to change that.
You can see the first big signs of Japanese businesses new big push in India. NTT Communications acquired Netmagic Solutions and Nomura Research has acquired Anshin Software and Market Xcel Data Matrix respectively. Panasonic has bought out Indian brand Anchor Electricals.

Dentsu has raised its stake in its Indian venture to make it a wholly-owned subsidiary. Companies like JTB are making their Indian debut by setting up offices here and some like Nippon Life are buying minority stakes in Indian companies like Reliance Capital AMC.

Not surprisingly, therefore, earlier this week, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) received the biggest ever business delegation from Japan. Some 80 Japanese business heads were here. And, yes, the 4,000 Japanese expats in India does look a small number compared to the Japanese presence in China. But the Japanese expat population in India has doubled in the past two years.

And the number of Japanese companies doing business in India has jumped. "In the past two-three years the number of Japanese companies here has doubled," says Gajendra Badgujar, deputy director, Ficci. There are now 1,000 Japanese companies in India.

In 2008-09 and 2009-10, Indo-Japanese trade was stuck at around $10 billion. In 2010-11, the figure moved up to $14 billion. Bilateral trade is likely to cross $16 billion in 2011-12, and the target for 2014-15 is $25 billion, according to Ficci.
Japanese companies like Japanese managers to head their foreign operations. Look at Suzuki. It's been in India for so long, but it's still more comfortable with a Japanese heading its biggest foreign operation. In this, the Japanese are like the Koreans, and unlike most Western MNCs.

Another very Japanese characteristic is that most expat managers don't bring along their families. Japan Inc watchers say just 30% of the Japanese expats in India have brought their families. No family means no need to set up homes. Most Japanese executives of Maruti Suzuki live out of hotels.

This reluctance to set up homes may be explained by cultural complexities, language barriers and the very different food in India, say Japanese expats. Nikon's Takashina, who in contrast to most Japanese expats is comfortable speaking in English, says "things have become better in the past three years. There is a Japanese supermarket now in NCR". For him, that's a sure sign that Japan Inc is making big plans.

More and more Japanese managers shopping for home-sourced comfort food in India while setting up more and more manufacturing and service shops here, that may be the positive business future India and Japan are looking at.

India must grab this opportunity.
1 set up exclusive japanease "enclave" for the managers. include.
-japanease super market
-Japanease school
-authentic Japanease restaurants

-Find out the things that Japs like and place the "enclave" next to a SEZ. Are you listening Modi?

Set the enclave up next to the

lakshmikanth · Post by **lakshmikanth** » 21 Oct 2012 05:50

^^^ where is the rest of the post?

shyam · Post by **shyam** » 21 Oct 2012 11:56

Yes, we need Japanese investment in India, but that doesn't mean that we need to do "Sashtanga Namskaram" to the Japanese. Understand that today it is the Japanese who need access to Indian labour and market rather than the other way around. So let's welcome Japanese to India, treat them with full respect, and expect the same in return. Rather than providing exclusive Japanese zones, encourage them to intergrate with Indians, more like what Koreans have done. Let it be a long term symbiotic relation rather than short term profit motives.

Keeping the long term memory of East India Company, never give any kind of exclusive zones to foreigners.

member_23677 · Post by **member_23677** » 22 Oct 2012 06:45

Rishirishi wrote:
India must grab this opportunity.
1 set up exclusive japanease "enclave" for the managers. include.
-japanease super market
-Japanease school
-authentic Japanease restaurants

-Find out the things that Japs like and place the "enclave" next to a SEZ. Are you listening Modi?

Set the enclave up next to the

Can you be a bigger slave? Why should we carve out a new Japan for Japanese investors

... they are here to invest, give them the oppurtutnity and then they can go... why should we create a "japannagar" in Bharat

You have to get rid of your sickening defeatist attitude and slave mentality...

shiv · Post by **shiv** » 22 Oct 2012 08:20

The Japanese have long experience in doing business in India. The success of Maruti Suzuki and Toyota show how the Japanese adjust to local culture without imposing anything other than work ethic in their business enterprises.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 23 Oct 2012 14:20

India-Japan cyber security meet on November 5

India and Japan will hold their maiden dialogue on cyber security on November 5, it was decided at their “2+2” meeting in Tokyo on Monday.

The four-hour meeting of the 2+2 or Foreign and Defence Secretaries from both sides, a format rarely used by New Delhi, also took some decisions to advance defence and security cooperation.

Officials, however, were tight-lipped as the proposals will be fine-tuned and unveiled during next month’s summit meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda.

The Indian team for the cyber security dialogue will be led by Ministry of External Affairs Special Secretary Ashok Mukherjee.

Officials hope that the exchange of notes on the topic with a developed country would help hone up security of the Indian cyber network, which faces relentless attacks from hackers based here and abroad.

“We hope to learn from them as we go about protecting ourselves from cyber attacks,” said an official source.

The two delegations also exchanged views on maritime and outer space security.

Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, who participated in the dialogue along with Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, later called on Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba.

The second 2 + 2 dialogue began with an assessment by the former Ambassador to India and Deputy Foreign Minister, Akitaka Saiki, about the security environment around Japan. This was followed by Mr. Mathai detailing India’s perception of the security environment from the Gulf to South East Asia and beyond. Administrative Vice Defence Minister Hironori Kanazawa then provided an overview of how Japan intends to adjust its security policy to the prevailing environment.

vina · Post by **vina** » 23 Oct 2012 15:09

he Japanese have long experience in doing business in India. The success of Maruti Suzuki and Toyota show how the Japanese adjust to local culture without imposing anything other than work ethic in their business enterprises

I don't think that is true.The Japanese are notoriously fickle in adjusting to any culture other than their own. They like to carry a "mini Japan" with them. They are sort of "at home" at Thailand (a lot of Japanese auto manufacturing and electronics hubs there), closer at home at China (where they grin and bear it) and are literally like a fish out of water in most other parts of the world including America .

Notice, I am talking of Japanese Salaryman "expats" and not American Japanese or Brazilian Japanse, who would be as alien and have serious trouble fitting in with the Japanese as an American or Brazilian of some other descent.

My experience at school was that the Japanese-American kids are fine, while the FOB Japanese were a close knit clique who stuck together and couldn't be seen even hanging out with the other kids.

devesh · Post by **devesh** » 23 Oct 2012 19:26

the Japanese are open to collaboration with Indians. they don't show any overt signs of racial superiority when they are dealing with Indians. you might actually expect a more condescending attitude from a Chicom then a Japanese person. I've had repeated experiences like this. with Japanese, if terms are mutually beneficial and if they come to respect your thinking, they might even admire you as a 'friend'.

Suppiah · Post by **Suppiah** » 23 Oct 2012 20:02

Japs are enigma..hard to figure out. You will find polar opposites - ones that will be exceedingly polite to any foreigner, including Indians, show lots of respect for our culture etc., and yet you will find those that cringe their nose when they see someone that is not of right color. The racist ones dont even bother to conceal their feelings or opinions, unlike the goras who keep it below surface.

But it is also a society in serious piskological trouble. I mean, you can understand if a Pinoy lady, drawing $200 a month greets every westerner by spreading her legs and lifting her skirt...she is chasing not just white c.ck but economic security, but there is absolutely no reason for a Jap woman to do this in even larger percentages, as they do.

As far as India goes, they admire and yet hate. You will find both as you travel there....leaving you wondering which is real Japan.

lakshmikanth · Post by **lakshmikanth** » 23 Oct 2012 23:06

^^^ Suppiahji,

I just returned from Japan after a 5 day trip. I did not see any hostility of the kind you mentioned, given that I am extremely sensitive to that. I got a lot of stares, but I am around 6'3 and was dressed in unkilland beach clothing.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 24 Oct 2012 10:18

Suppiah wrote:As far as India goes, they admire and yet hate. You will find both as you travel there....leaving you wondering which is real Japan.

I am sure that the Indian mosaic is far more complex. There are a number of issues, especially security, that push India and Japan together. The Japanese have taken unprecedented political and military decisions vis-a-vis India. We should take advantage of the compulsions that we both face.