Tokyo— Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the governors of sixteen Japanese prefectures on Saturday, urging them to deepen state-prefecture partnerships under the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership, according to a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation beyond national capitals, with Modi stressing the importance of sub-national collaboration in technology, innovation, investment, start-ups, skills, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Highlighting the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative launched during the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, the Prime Minister said this framework should serve as a platform for shared growth. He also underlined the civilizational bonds between the two nations and called for a renewed push to expand ties across states and prefectures.
Modi encouraged Japanese governors and Indian state governments to collaborate in areas such as commerce, manufacturing, mobility, next-generation infrastructure, tourism, and cultural exchange. He also emphasized youth and skill development, suggesting that India’s talent could be effectively combined with Japan’s technological strengths.
The Japanese governors welcomed the initiative, noting that closer sub-national engagement is vital for advancing trade, educational exchanges, cultural linkages, and people-to-people connections between India and Japan.
