Bring your technology; we will provide talent, land and partnership, Karnataka told the Japanese trade delegation

The Karnataka government on Monday asked Japanese companies to strengthen their manufacturing and technology partnerships with the state, benefit from its skilled talent, industrial infrastructure and friendly policies to expand their operations and build globally competitive supply chains.

Delivering the keynote address at the fourth India-Japan Business Summit 2026 here, S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industry, Government of Karnataka, urged Japanese businesses to look at Karnataka as a long-term partner for manufacturing, innovation and global expansion.

“Bring your technology and we will give you the talent, land and partnership to build it at its scale. The state has built a strong position in electronics, aerospace and defence, software exports and machine tool manufacturing,” Mr Selvakumar told a packed audience of the Japanese trade delegation, diplomats and Japanese businessmen.

According to him, Karnataka accounted for 40% of India’s electronic design activity, 65% of its aerospace and defense manufacturing, 40% of its software exports and 52% of its machine tool manufacturing. The state was also home to more than 100 chip design houses and more than 800 research and development centers.

Mr. Selvakumar highlighted the state’s skilled workforce, established industrial ecosystem and dedicated incentive packages for electronics manufacturing. These include plant, machinery and land support, turnover incentives and electricity tariff subsidies.

“The government is also working to expand industrial opportunities outside Bengaluru, with the support of a digital single window system covering over 30 departments,” he said.

Mr. Selvakumar said Karnataka’s approach was not limited to attracting investment but focused on building long-term partnerships that translate into manufacturing facilities, exports, employment and technological development.

The summit is jointly organized by Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) and Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Also at the event, K. Ravi, President of BCIC, said that BCIC’s presence in Tokyo, established in 2022, has helped create a permanent channel to connect Indian businesses with Japanese companies and institutions.

“Through the SMRJ-BCIC Startup Portal, we aim to connect over 1,000 Indian SMEs with Japanese companies, investors and technology partners, opening up opportunities for technology partnerships, joint ventures, investments, market access and business cooperation,” he said, adding that the initiative reflects the trade body’s commitment to create meaningful business linkages and expand opportunities for Indian businesses in Japan and beyond Indian Chamber of Commerce. but a bridge of opportunity connecting Karnataka, India and Japan to the world,” added Mr. Ravi.

Mr. Hiroshi Nawata, Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru said that Karnataka is home to more than 200 Japanese companies and more than 500 Japanese establishments, reflecting the depth of the economic relationship between the two sides.

While highlighting the strong partnership between Karnataka and Japan, Mr. Hiroshi said, “Bengaluru’s strengths in information technology, artificial intelligence, research and innovation complement Japan’s expertise in engineering, manufacturing, robotics and industrial excellence.”

Before Japan was an opportunity to bring these strengths together, not only to increase trade, but also to create new technologies, create jobs and build globally competitive businesses, he added.

Mr. Nawata called for deeper cooperation in innovation, industrial development and shared prosperity. He noted that “BCIC was the only industry body in India to establish an office in Japan, reflecting its commitment to strengthen institutional and business ties between the two countries.

Building a talent pool ready for Japan

As part of the summit, BCIC signed MoUs with HKBK College, Garden City College and Jain College to provide Japanese language instruction to engineering students.

The initiative aims to equip students with language skills that can improve their career prospects in Japan and with Japanese companies operating in Bengaluru. The summit also included a panel discussion entitled: The Japan Way: Driving Excellence in Indian Manufacturing through Adoption of Japan Practices.

Published – 02 Nov 2026 22:28 IST