The North News
New Delhi, August 30
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for stronger collaboration between Indian states and Japanese prefectures, stressing the importance of expanding ties beyond Tokyo and Delhi. Speaking to governors of several Japanese prefectures in Tokyo on Saturday, Modi said India-Japan relations continue to thrive, drawing strength from centuries-old civilisational links.
He highlighted the State-Prefecture Partnership Initiative, first announced at the 15th Annual Summit, as a key framework to expand cooperation in trade, technology, tourism, skills, security and culture. Modi urged governors and Indian states to forge partnerships in areas such as manufacturing, innovation, mobility, infrastructure, start-ups and small businesses.
He noted that each Japanese prefecture has unique economic and technological strengths, while Indian states bring diverse capabilities to the table. Combining these, he said, would help advance India’s growth story.
The Japanese governors welcomed the initiative, describing sub-national collaboration as essential to elevating business, education, cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries.
