Embassy of India
Tokyo
****
Press Release
Inauguration of the India-Japan SME Forum
- Inauguration of the India–Japan SME Forum was held on 21 November 2025, marking a major step forward in the India–Japan Next Generation Economic Partnership. The Embassy of India, Tokyo in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Government of Japan, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) organised the event.
- The India-Japan Joint Vision for the Next Decade, adopted during the visit of Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to Japan in August 2025, encourages cooperation between SMEs by fostering visits of Japanese SMEs to India, expanding downstream industries and launching an India-Japan SME Forum.
- In her inaugural remarks H.E Ms. Nagma Mohamed Mallick, Ambassador designate of India to Japan, highlighted that India-Japan SME Forum reflected the shared commitment of both nations to deepen trade and investment, advance technology collaboration, strengthen resilient supply chains, and expand people-to-people linkages. The Ambassador welcomed Japanese SMEs to invest and make in India, assuring them of the Embassy’s support and facilitation. H.E. Mr. INO Toshiro, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Government of Japan in his keynote address noted the announcement of a target of ¥10 trillion in private investment from Japan to India during the Annual Summit 2025. He underscored the importance of encouraging SMEs to expand into India’s fast-growing market. He stated that an SME Mission would visit India in December this year.
- Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) welcomed Japanese SMEs to India and noted that Indian talent and scale when combined with Japanese process excellence and technology could create globally competitive SME enterprises. Mr. ISHIGURO Norihiko, Chairman and CEO, JETRO emphasized that India had consistently ranked first among major countries where Japanese companies would like to ‘expand business operations over the next 1-2 years’. Mr. OGAWA Kazunari, Senior Managing Director, JBIC highlighted their activities with respect to NICDC and Industrial Corridors and noted the encouraging operation of the India-Japan Fund.
- The event also showcased experience sharing by the representatives of KAI Corporation and SPRIX Inc. who shared their companies’ success stories and the tangible opportunities that India-Japan collaboration in the economic sphere provides. More than 170 Japanese SMEs participated in the event.
Tokyo
21 November 2025
***
