Assam seeks deeper Japan ties in semiconductors, clean energy

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the State was looking to deepen its engagement with Japan in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy and skill development, as Assam seeks to position itself as a key node in the expanding India-Japan partnership.

In a post on X after meeting Japan’s Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, at the envoy’s residence in the national capital on Monday (July 6, 2026), Mr. Sarma said the two sides held a “productive exchange” on the outcomes of the recent India-Japan Summit and the opportunities it could open up for Assam.

“I am grateful to H.E. Mr. Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, for hosting me at his residence in New Delhi for Cha-no-yu, the traditional Japanese tea ceremony,” Mr. Sarma wrote, adding that the discussions covered semiconductor research, clean energy and Japanese language training.

The meeting assumes significance as Assam steps up efforts to attract Japanese investment and technical collaboration in high-technology manufacturing, renewable energy, infrastructure and human resource development. Mr. Sarma said Assam was keen to play a greater role in advancing the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and reaffirmed the State’s commitment to contributing to the growing relationship between the two countries.

Japan has already emerged as an important partner in Assam’s semiconductor ambitions, particularly around the Tata group’s ₹27,000-crore semiconductor assembly and test facility at Jagiroad in Morigaon district. The project, one of the biggest industrial investments in the State, is expected to anchor a wider electronics and semiconductor ecosystem in Assam and generate substantial employment.

The State government has in recent months highlighted Japan’s potential role in supporting that ecosystem through technology collaboration, supply-chain linkages, precision manufacturing and workforce training. Assam has also been pitching itself as a strategic location for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, citing improving infrastructure, policy support and its proximity to Southeast Asian markets.

The latest outreach to Japan comes amid a broader push by the Assam government to leverage global partnerships to drive industrial growth in emerging sectors. Officials have projected semiconductors, green energy and skilling as central to that strategy, with Japanese expertise seen as particularly valuable in building both industrial capacity and a trained workforce.

The engagement with the Japanese envoy is also being viewed as part of Assam’s attempt to align its industrial plans with the broader priorities of the India-Japan strategic partnership, which has increasingly expanded into technology, resilient supply chains and clean energy.