Piyush Goyal Invites Japanese Firms from Kansai to Invest in India's Semiconductor Sector

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has invited Japanese companies, particularly those from the Kansai region, to invest in India's growing semiconductor ecosystem. Speaking at an Investors and Business Roadshow, the minister detailed financial commitments and growth projections aimed at strengthening bilateral industrial ties.

Highlighting the government's financial backing, Goyal stated that India's first Semiconductor Mission seeded $10 billion, which, along with state government support, attracted $20 billion in investments. Building on this foundation, the government has launched Semiconductor India Mission 2.0 with an outlay of $15 billion. Combined with matching state incentives, the administration expects this phase to mobilize $50 billion in fresh investments.

Goyal noted that India is prepared to fund further initiatives due to the rising domestic demand for semiconductors. Citing projections, he stated that India's annual semiconductor consumption is expected to reach $150 billion per year within five years, presenting a significant opportunity for companies to innovate and manufacture in India.

In addition to hardware manufacturing, the minister addressed bilateral cooperation in human resources and labor mobility. He noted that Prime Minister Takaichi signaled Japan's willingness to welcome 300,000 Indians across various sectors. To support this, Goyal proposed partnerships with Kansai companies to train Indian workers in Japanese work ethics, culture, and language prior to their deployment in Japan. He urged Kansai industry leaders to visit India and engage through joint exhibitions, sectoral dialogues, and exchange seminars.

The minister also identified food processing as a key sector for collaboration, suggesting that India could adopt Japanese standards to enhance the quality of processed foods, while Japanese firms could utilize India as both a market and a technology partner.

On the maritime front, Goyal pointed to India's pool of nearly 250,000 seafarers serving globally. Following discussions with the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC)—which agreed to establish a major seafarer training academy in Mumbai—he called for similar partnerships with Japanese shipping companies and training institutes to meet high global demand for skilled Indian maritime workers.

"The expansion of India's semiconductor initiatives, backed by substantial public outlay and matching state incentives, signals a structural push toward electronics manufacturing and self-reliance. For the broader startup and business ecosystem, this opens up massive supply chain and tech integration opportunities. Furthermore, structured human resource training and cross-border partnerships in sectors like food processing and maritime logistics create durable avenues for bilateral trade and collaboration between India and Japan." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes