Bring your technology; we’ll provide talent, land and partnerships, Karnataka tells Japanese business delegation

The Karnataka government on Monday asked Japanese companies to strengthen their manufacturing and technology partnerships with the State, benefit from its skilled talent pool, industrial infrastructure, and friendly policies to scale up their operations, and build globally competitive supply chains.

Delivering the keynote address at the fourth edition of the India-Japan Business Summit 2026 here, S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Commerce and Industries, Government of Karnataka, called upon Japanese businesses to look at Karnataka as a long-term partner for manufacturing, innovation, and global expansion.

“Bring your technology and we will give you the talent, the land and the partnership to build it at its scale. The State has established a strong position in electronics, aerospace and defence, software exports and machine-tool manufacturing,” Mr. Selvakumar told a packed audience comprising a Japanese business delegation, diplomats, and Japanese entrepreneurs.

According to him, Karnataka accounted for 40% of India’s electronic design activity, 65% of its aerospace and defence manufacturing, 40% of software exports, and 52% of machine-tool manufacturing. The State was also home to more than 100 chip-design houses and over 800 research and development centres.

Mr. Selvakumar highlighted the State’s skilled workforce, established industrial ecosystem, and dedicated incentive packages for electronics manufacturing. These include support for plant, machinery, and land, turnover-linked incentives, and power tariff subsidies.

“The government is also working to expand industrial opportunities beyond Bengaluru, supported by a digital single-window system covering more than 30 departments,” he said.

Mr. Selvakumar said that Karnataka’s approach was not limited to attracting investments but focused on building long-term partnerships that translate into manufacturing facilities, exports, employment, and technology development.

The summit is jointly organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) and Tokushima Prefecture, Japan.

Also speaking at the event, K. Ravi, President, BCIC, said BCIC’s Tokyo presence, established in 2022, has helped create a sustained channel for connecting Indian businesses with Japanese companies and institutions.

“Through the SMRJ-BCIC Startup Portal, we aim to connect more than 1,000 Indian MSMEs with Japanese companies, investors and technology partners, opening up opportunities for technology partnerships, joint ventures, investments, market access and business collaborations,’’ he said adding this initiative reflected trade body’s commitment to creating meaningful business linkages and expanding opportunities for Indian enterprises in Japan and beyond. “Our aspiration is to make BCIC not merely a chamber of commerce, but a bridge of opportunity connecting Karnataka, India and Japan with the world,’’ Mr. Ravi added.

Mr. Hiroshi Nawata, Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru, said Karnataka was home to more than 200 Japanese companies and over 500 Japanese establishments, reflecting the depth of the economic relationship between the two sides.

While highlighting the strong partnership between Karnataka and Japan, Mr. Hiroshi, said, “Bengaluru’s strengths in information technology, artificial intelligence, research and innovation complement Japan’s expertise in engineering, manufacturing, robotics and industrial excellence.’’

The opportunity before Japan was to bring these strengths together, not merely to increase trade, but to create new technologies, generate employment and build globally competitive businesses, he added.

Mr. Nawata, called for deeper cooperation in innovation, industrial development and shared prosperity. He noted that, “BCIC was the only industrial body in India to have established an office in Japan, reflecting its commitment to strengthening institutional and business ties between the two countries.”

Building a Japan-ready talent pool

As part of the summit, BCIC signed memoranda of understanding with HKBK College, Garden City College and Jain College to provide Japanese language training to engineering students.

The initiative aims to equip students with language skills that can improve their career prospects in Japan and with Japanese companies operating in Bengaluru. The summit also featured a panel discussion titled: The Japan Way: Driving Excellence in Indian Manufacturing through Adoption of Japanese Practices.