Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday said that greater participation and engagement of industries in Japan will benefit India’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.
“Greater participation and engagement of industries in Hyogo will benefit Japan and India’s MSME sector for which it could prove transformational,” Modi said at a lunch hosted in his honour here by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the state government of Gujarat and the government of Japan’s Hyogo prefecture.
Modi recalled his visits to Kobe in 2007 and 2012 even before he became prime minister and said that the Indian community in this Japanese city has a long history of trade and commerce.
“I congratulate all residents of Kobe on the forthcoming 150 years of its port,” he said.
“Our relationship is characterised by complete trust and mutual confidence. I thank (Hyogo) Governor (Toshizo) Ido for his valuable efforts to develop relations with Gujarat.”
Earlier in the day, the third and last day of his visit to Japan, Modi along with Abe travelled by the Shinkansen high-speed rail from Tokyo to Kobe.
“Putting #IndiaJapan relations on the fast track! PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo arrive at Tokyo Station to board the Shinkansen,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.
“A unique friendship on a unique train journey. PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo inside the Shinkansen bullet train to Kobe,” Swarup said in another tweet accompanied by a picture of the two leaders inside the train.
Following the lunch, he visited the Kawasaki Heavy Industries plant here where the high-speed trains are manufactured to take first-hand knowledge of the technology.