New Delhi, 02 July (H.S.): India and Japan on Thursday launched a major bilateral initiative to establish 1,000 biogas and organic fertiliser plants across India, marking a significant step towards strengthening clean energy, rural development and sustainable agriculture.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi following delegation-level talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit at Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Addressing a joint press statement, Prime Minister Modi said the two countries had taken several important decisions in the field of energy security. He noted that the newly launched India-Japan Biogas Initiative would support the establishment of 1,000 biogas and organic fertiliser plants across the country, giving fresh momentum to India's GOBAR-Dhan (Galvanising Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan) programme.

Modi said the initiative would promote sustainability, strengthen rural livelihoods, improve waste management and contribute to India's clean energy transition. He added that expanding biogas production would enhance organic fertiliser availability while generating additional income opportunities for rural communities.

As part of the summit, the two countries exchanged a Memorandum of Cooperation between India's Ministry of Cooperation and Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The agreement focuses on expanding the production and utilisation of biogas and organic fertilisers to promote rural prosperity, energy security and sustainable mobility.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important area of cooperation between the two countries. She said India has set an ambitious goal of establishing 1,000 biogas plants by leveraging the cooperative sector and converting cattle waste into clean energy. Japan, she said, would support this objective through the newly launched Japan-India Cooperative Biogas for Growth (CBG) Initiative.

The two leaders also reviewed broader cooperation in areas including defence, trade, advanced technology, infrastructure, supply chain resilience and clean energy as they sought to deepen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

Prime Minister Modi welcomed Takaichi on her first official visit to India since assuming office as Japan's Prime Minister and described her as a visionary leader. He also noted the historical and cultural links between India's Buddhist heritage and Japan's Nara Prefecture, from where Takaichi hails.

Prime Minister Takaichi is on a three-day official visit to India from July 1 to July 3 for the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit. The visit is aimed at reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and exploring new avenues for collaboration on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The launch of the biogas initiative is expected to become one of the flagship outcomes of Thursday's summit, reinforcing both countries' commitment to sustainable development, renewable energy and long-term economic partnership.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar