On the fifth day of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s visit to Japan, three MoUs were signed including one with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) which seeks to launch a working group for facilitating investment from Japan into A.P.
Another MoU was signed between New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) and A.P. government seeking to collaborate in different sectors, including smart community activities and energy-related technology areas, while the third one relates to expansion of existing production unit at Sri City by Kobelco Cranes India, the Indian arm of the Japanese crane manufacturer.
Among others, Mr. Naidu met representatives of Hitachi Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Toshiba, Softbank, ISEKI & Co and Uniqlo, Japan’s biggest retail chain.
During his interaction with Yoshiyuki Toyoda, MD of ISEKI on making agriculture profitable and sustainable, Mr. Naidu asked him to take the first mover’s advantage and invest in A.P.
At SMBC, its senior advisor told Mr. Naidu that SMBC could act like a bridge between A.P. and Japanese companies, many of which have technologies for developing smart cities. Mr. Naidu invited Hitachi to be part of building A.P.’s capital city and requested the company to study the capital city plan. Mr. Naidu assured that a Japan Desk with Japanese-speaking officials would be set up in his office to expedite clearances.
