Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Tokyo for his two-day official visit to Japan from August 29–30 to attend the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit.

During the visit, PM Modi will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, focusing on trade, defence, technology, and cooperation in emerging sectors like semiconductors and artificial intelligence. He is also expected to interact with business leaders, cultural groups, and members of the Indian diaspora.

PM @narendramodi arrives at Kantei, the official residence of PM of Japan, to a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour.

15th IN-JP Annual Summit discussions lie ahead. pic.twitter.com/aZKLjMNlBi
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 29, 2025

The visit comes against the backdrop of changing global alignments and a decline in India-US relations over trade and tariff policies under US President Donald Trump.

India's outreach to Japan-one of India’s most reliable strategic allies in Asia-is thus being viewed as an important component of revamping its diplomatic priorities.

Prime Minister Modi will also meet prominent Indian and Japanese business leaders at a special forum to promote more trade, investments, and technology transfer. The focus will also be on deepening Japanese prefecture-state cooperation.

Foreign Secretary Misri states: "India-Japan ties have gradually increased in ambition and scale over the decade. The leaders will review achievements and discuss how best to inject more resilience into the relationship".

Today’s welcome in Tokyo was memorable. Here are the highlights… pic.twitter.com/m8FfH7PGD0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 29, 2025

India-Japan Partnership goes beyond trade. Prime Minister Modi also stressed that the India-Japan partnership goes beyond commerce. This relationship is not only about trade and investment but also about shaping the future of innovation and ensuring stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a significant announcement, PM Modi revealed that after defense and space, the Indian government is opening the nuclear energy sector to private players, underlining India’s commitment to unlocking new areas of growth and technology collaboration.

The address comes as India and Japan are preparing to scale up cooperation in technology, defence, and infrastructure, with Japan expected to announce a major long-term investment package in India.

A Key Platform

The economic forum in Tokyo served as a key platform for both governments and industry leaders to chart the next phase of their strategic partnership.,

PM Modi while addressing the ‘India-Japan Economic Forum in Tokyo’ projected India as a global hub of talent, stability, and opportunity. Addressing leading industrialists and policymakers, Modi said that India today combines “political stability, economic stability, transparency in policy, and predictability” factors that have turned it into the fastest-growing major economy in the world.

“Very soon, India is going to become the third-largest economy in the world,” he declared, stressing that the transformation is the result of the government’s guiding principle of “reform, perform and transform.”,

Calling India a “talent powerhouse” that is driving innovation across cutting-edge sectors; PM Modi highlighted India’s progress in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, space and more sectors. India has taken “several decisive initiatives” to position itself as a global leader in technology.

PM Modi added India’s skilled talent combined with Japan’s advanced technology is creating a “revolution of possibilities” in multiple industries. He urged business leaders from both sides to seize the opportunity to deepen cooperation and strengthen supply chains, particularly in critical and emerging technologies.

India-Japan partnership is not only about trade and investment but also about shaping the future of innovation and ensuring stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Japan is setting up a massive investment drive into India, with Tokyo-based news outlet Nikkei Asia reporting that the nation will invest 10 trillion yen (approximately USD 68 billion) over the next ten years to enhance bilateral business relations. The investment will be made across high-growth sectors like artificial intelligence, semiconductors, environment-related technologies, and medical research.

PM Modi is in Tokyo on Friday for the 15th India-Japan Annual Summit, is set to have detailed exchanges with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on ways in which the two nations can deepen cooperation in these areas. The announcement reflects Japan's faith in the economic potential of India and its contribution towards the development of resilient supply chains.

Increasing state-level cooperation between Indian states and the Japanese prefectures, and reinforcing educational and cultural exchanges will also be on the agenda. India-Japan relations have grown steadily in ambition and scope over the past decade.

The two leaders will also discuss progress on collaborative projects like the Unified Complex Radio Antenna (UNICORN) project for the Indian Navy and the LUPEX lunar mission, a joint project between ISRO and Japan's space programme JAXA to explore the Moon's south pole.

Infact, India and Japan are Asia’s two leading democracies and among the world’s top five economies. They share values, trust, and a strategic outlook on key regional and global issues. The summit is to provide an opportunity to consolidate this partnership and launch new initiatives to address emerging challenges.

PM Modi took to social media on Friday morning to share his impressions after being welcomed by the Indian community in Tokyo. Writing in Japanese, PM Modi has said that he was “deeply impressed by the warmth of the Indian community in Tokyo” and lauded their efforts to make meaningful contributions to Japanese society while preserving India’s cultural roots.

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