A Japanese delegation comprising of top officials of banks and the corporate sector visited Assam in a bid to explore possibilities for investment.
Kurihara (Toshi) Toshihiko, chief representative, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); Tsuyoshi Honda, director, chief regional officer of Kolkata Branch of Mitsui and Co India Pvt Ltd and Vinayak Kant Mishra, senior economist (JBIC) interacted with officials of the Assam industries and commerce, Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), Assam Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (AIIDC), Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), Assam Science Technology and Environment Council (ASTEC) and MSME Development Institute at Udyog Bhawan on March 10.
JBIC, a financial institution wholly owned by Japan government, promotes and invests in the joint ventures of Japanese companies having stakes in overseas business with foreign entities.
Mitsui and Co is a Japanese conglomerate operating in more than 63 countries. The company operates in diverse segments with a particular interest in energy, mineral and metal resources, machinery and infrastructure among others.
During the interaction, Kurihara (Toshi) Toshihiko stated that JBIC has mobilized USD 7.8 billion for Indian operations for the financial year 2020-21. He deliberated on the Indo-Japan bilateral relationship and the way JBIC has harmonized their lending with the central government policies. He elaborated the support to India’s climate actions on reducing the carbon footprint and developing renewable energy resources.
He also opined that JBIC is interested in giving loans to Indian companies and public-private enterprises that have a minimum of 10 percent equity holding by a Japanese company and JBIC is open to lending to ventures along with other co-financiers to entities that purchase Japanese equipment.
Tsuyoshi Honda gave a brief presentation on the various sectors the company is operating in, particularly on the green energy sector. APDCL officials expressed the hope of exploring opportunities and future collaboration on geothermal power, wind and solar power.
Nava Kumar Talukdar, additional director, industries and commerce along with other officials of industries and commerce discussed in detail with the Japanese delegates on the various schemes available to the entrepreneurs of the region.
He assured JBIC to extend all necessary help and cooperation to support the entrepreneurs of Assam.
