FM Arun Jaitley to visit Japan to deepen bilateral economic ties

NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will meet investors in Japan during a six-day visit to the country beginning Sunday, aiming to enhance the bilateral economic engagement between the two Asian partners and boost cooperation among businesses from India and Japan.

The importance of the visit is underlined by a series of significant meetings which are expected to set the pace for an intensified dialogue between businesses on both sides.

Among these engagements are the CEO's Roundtable on June 1 with the chief executives of Japanese companies and the meeting on the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) which will involve interaction with banks, insurance companies, asset management companies looking to expand their presence in India as well as discussion with Japan Post and pension funds regarding long-term investment in India.

On June 1, Jaitley will address and interact with the Indian diapsora at 'The India Club' at Kobe. The Finance Minister is also slated to deliver a lecture at the Osaka University and attend an India investment promotion seminar on June 2, being organised by CII.

The NIIF has been set up by the government in partnership with institutional investors from India and abroad to attract investments in commercially viable infrastructure projects in roads and highways, railways which has exciting plans to build dedicated freight corridors and logistics hubs, ports with the vast Indian coastline of over 7,000 km, renewable energy and smart cities.

The visit by the high-powered CEOs delegation accompanying Jaitley "comes at a time when India's experience of strong economic growth, comfortable price situation, low current account deficit, and adherence to fiscal recovery path have projected her as an outpost of opportunity for global investors," Ficci said.

The delegation will also attend a meeting with JETRO on the May 30, visit DIET, the Japanese Parliament and participate in the NIKKEI Conference. Jaitley will deliver an address on "India's Economic Performance; An Engine for Growth" as part of the overarching theme of 'The Future of Asia'.

The delegation will comprise representatives from industry bodies Ficci and CII along with business heads from diversified sectors and senior government officials.