MEA emphasizes stronger ties between Japan and Northeast India

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. File | Photo credit: ANI

India has a “very strong partnership” with Japan and bilateral projects involving the northeastern states will be “further strengthened”, Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said on Wednesday (Oct 28, 2026). The comments came hours after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed to “enhance connectivity in the region” and signed agreements that will pave the way for more Japanese aid to Bangladesh’s Matarbari deep-sea port, which will connect with northeast India.

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“We have a very strong partnership with Japan. We also have several initiatives involving the Northeast (India) and Japan and we would like to strengthen these ties further,” Mr. Jaiswal said. The Japanese language was being taught to the working population in the northeastern states as part of these initiatives, he added.

“It will also boost the Japan-India economic partnership here in India,” Jaiswal said. The northeastern states were also receiving assistance from Japan as part of this larger bilateral framework, he said.

Japan and Bangladesh signed several agreements during Mr. Rahman’s ongoing visit to Tokyo, which include further development of an industrial hub centered around the deep-sea port of Matarbari. Mr. Rahman met Ms. Takaichi and representatives of leading business houses during the visit.

Sources in Japan say they envisage linking the Matarbari port with northeast India to ensure optimum use of the industrial hub and the first deep-water port in Bangladesh, which currently depends on ports in Malaysia and Singapore to handle large vessels.

A joint statement issued during Mr. Rahman’s visit included the Matarbari port agreement under the “connectivity” section and highlighted Japan’s intention to intensify work on the port. “In order to sustain rapid economic growth, the two Prime Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to continuously deepen cooperation aimed at further enhancing connectivity in the region,” the joint statement said, adding, “On the basis of ‘BIG-B (Bay of Bengal Industrial Growth) for Shared Prosperity’, they agreed to cooperate in the development of the Matarbari-Maheshkhal Industrial Centre, a major industrial hub in the region Matarbari-Maheshkhar. A deep sea port.”

Published – 28 Oct 2026 22:04 IST