Japanese investors are looking at the food processing and logistics sectors for investments in the State, Shinya Fuji, director-general, Japan External Trade Organisation, and Masanori Nakano, Consul-General, have said.
Addressing reporters after a business meet here on Friday, they said that automotive components and supply chain management were two other major sectors in which they were keen on investing. India is already a major export base for Japanese entrepreneurs. This would be consolidated further, they said.
Inkel Managing Director T. Balakrishnan said that Kerala proposed to pitch its position as an investment base for specified Japanese investments. Mr. Balakrishnan, who is also the chairman and managing director of Kerala High Speed Rail Corporation, which is setting up the country's first high-speed rail corridor, said that this project, expected to cost Rs.1.5 lakh crore, had seen some Japanese connection with the Japan International Cooperation Agency being the prime lender.
The possibility for attracting Japanese investments in manufacture of advance components of high-speed trains may also be explored.
Both, Mr. Fuji and Mr. Nakano said that India could be a prospective base and export hub for these components.
Mr. Balakrishnan said that Kerala was looking at setting up some facility to manufacture these special components. The State proposed to take up this proposal at the Emerging Kerala investment summit, he said.
