Karnataka invites Japanese firms to scale manufacturing, tech alliances

“Bring your technology and we will provide the talent, the land, and the partnership to build it at scale,” said S Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries department, on Monday. He invited Japanese companies to view the state as a long-term partner for manufacturing, innovation, and global expansion.

Delivering the keynote address at the fourth edition of the India-Japan Business Summit, Selvakumar noted that the state has established a dominant position across critical high-tech sectors. Karnataka accounts for 40% of India’s electronic design activity, 65% of aerospace and defence manufacturing, 40% of software exports, and 52% of machine-tool production, besides hosting over 100 chip-design firms and more than 800 R&D centres.

Selvakumar emphasised that the state's focus is not merely on drawing investment dollars, but on building enduring partnerships that translate into manufacturing units, employment, and technology transfers. He highlighted dedicated incentive packages for electronics manufacturing, including support for plant, machinery, and land, turnover-linked incentives, and power tariff subsidies, alongside a digital single-window clearance system spanning over 30 departments to drive industrial growth beyond Bengaluru.


The summit, organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) in association with Japan’s Tokushima Prefecture, was held under the theme ‘Make in India with Japan, for the Globe.’

Hiroshi Nawata, Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru, said Karnataka is home to more than 200 Japanese companies and over 500 establishments. “Bengaluru’s strengths in information technology, artificial intelligence, and research complement Japan’s expertise in engineering, manufacturing, robotics, and industrial excellence,” Nawata said, calling for deeper institutional cooperation to build globally competitive enterprises.

BCIC President K Ravi said the chamber’s Tokyo office, set up in 2022, serves as a direct bridge for bilateral engagement, making BCIC the only Indian industry chamber with a presence in Japan. “Through the SMRJ-BCIC Startup Portal, we aim to connect more than 1,000 Indian MSMEs with Japanese companies, investors, and technology partners, opening up avenues for joint ventures and market access,” Ravi said.

During the summit, BCIC signed pacts with HKBK College, Garden City College, and Jain College to offer Japanese language training to engineering students, aiming to create a bilingual talent pool for Japanese corporations operating locally and in Japan.

A panel discussion on adopting Japanese manufacturing practices featured leaders from Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, Mosaique, Synergy Global, and Yuken India.