Noida,19 Aug (HS): At the UP-Japan Investment

Meet 2026, organized to give new impetus to investment, technology, and

industrial cooperation between Uttar Pradesh and Japan, Union Agriculture and

Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emphasized the need to bring the

benefits of Japanese technology and expertise in agriculture to Indian farmers.

He also described Uttar Pradesh as a strong destination for investment by

Japanese companies.

He stated that the India-Japan partnership should not be

limited to investment, but should also benefit farmers, youth, and the rural

economy. India has a vast market, a large young population, and vast potential

in the agricultural sector. Technical and industrial cooperation with Japan can

open new avenues in agriculture. He urged Japanese industry and institutions to

develop technology and machinery that is useful and easily accessible to even

small and marginal farmers.

It is noteworthy that the UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026 is

being held from August 18 to 23 in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. More than 200

Japanese industrialists, CEOs, business representatives, and policymakers are

participating. The UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026 is presenting investment

opportunities for Japanese companies in sectors such as advanced technology,

green hydrogen, renewable energy, electric mobility, semiconductors, automotive

components, digital infrastructure, skill development, and tourism.

Japan is an important partner of UP: The Union Minister

stated that Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a strong destination for global

investment due to its large consumer market, skilled human resources, excellent

connectivity, rapidly developing infrastructure, and investment-friendly

policies. Japan is a special and important partner of Uttar Pradesh, and Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath's recent visit to Japan has further strengthened the

relationship between the two sides. Uttar Pradesh possesses strength,

tradition, talent, infrastructure, investment, innovation, and a large market

potential. He appealed to Japanese industry, stating that by combining Japan's

technological expertise with Uttar Pradesh's talent and market potential,

unlimited new opportunities for employment, innovation, and sustainable growth

can be created.

There is a need to increase the productivity of farmers: The

Agriculture Minister said that today, there is a need for technology that

increases farmers' productivity, reduces water consumption and production

costs, and increases farmers' income. Research in the agricultural sector

should directly benefit the farm. Research should not be limited to paper, but

should be translated into products and technologies that farmers can easily

adopt.

Emphasis on connecting rural youth with the development

journey: The Union Minister also emphasized the need to connect rural youth

with agricultural technology. He stated that employment and entrepreneurship

opportunities can be created for rural youth through the operation,

maintenance, and related businesses of new agricultural machinery and

technology. This will enable rural youth to become active participants, not

mere spectators, in the development journey. He also called on Japan to

cooperate in making India a global center for agricultural technology. He

stated that through better coordination between agriculture and manufacturing,

technologies useful for farmers can be developed.

India-Japan relations are not limited to investments only: Shivraj

Singh Chouhan described the relationship between India and Japan as a strong

partnership between two countries as well as two cultures. He said that India's

spiritual and cultural strength and Japan's technological prowess and

industrial capability can together pave a new path for development. India's

partnership with Japan should not be viewed solely from an investment

perspective. Long-term cooperation in the areas of technology, innovation,

skill development, manufacturing, and employment should be an important part of

it.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi