India, 27th June: Shri M.B. Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, Government of Karnataka, held a series of pivotal meetings with prominent Japanese corporations such as Yamaha Motor Corp, Aichi Tokei and Brother Industries. The primary objective of these discussions revolved around heightening economic collaboration and exposing untapped investment opportunities within Karnataka. Such initiatives are seen as significant steps in fortifying Karnataka’s position as a top-tier destination for investment. Shri Selvakumar S, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industries, and Smt Gunjan Krishna, IAS, Commissioner for Industrial Development and Director, Department of Commerce and Industries attended these meetings.
These strategic meetings underlined Karnataka’s proactive approach to attracting foreign investment and fostering collaborations that contribute to the state’s economic development. With its commitment to supporting ventures in key sectors like mobility and water infrastructure, the government aims to establish Karnataka as a preferred destination for leading global companies.
Yamaha Motor Corp (YMC)
In a significant move to enhance industrial collaboration, the delegation led by Shri M.B. Patil engaged in fruitful discussions with senior executives from Yamaha Motor Corp. Participants included Mr. Hajime Aota, Chief General Manager of the New Business Development Center (NBDC); Mr. Shungo Terajima, General Manager of the Mobility Service Business (MSB) Division, NBDC; Mr. Masaharu Kobayashi, Group Leader of the Growth Foundation Establishment (GFE) Group, MSB Division, NBDC; Ms. Deepika Lana, Team Lead of the Alliance Team, GFE Group, MSB Division, NBDC; and Mr. Yusuke Umezawa, Chief Strategic Officer of Moto Business Service India Ltd.
Discussions focused on Yamaha Motor Corp’s current focus in India, specifically their new business domain, ‘Mobility Business Service India (MBSI),’ which involves fleet management of two-wheelers and leasing services. Yamaha Motor Corp is partnering with local fleet companies like Rapido Taxi and startups such as Zypp Electric to capitalize on India’s growing food delivery and quick commerce sectors. Yamaha is also increasing its footprint in venture investments in EV startups, including a recent investment in River, which has a factory in Hoskote, Karnataka, focusing on utility scooters. The Government of Karnataka will support Yamaha in forming partnerships with other startups, such as Micelio, and will invite River to participate in VentuRISE as a mentor for the Auto/EV focus sector. Additionally, the government will facilitate partnerships with global vendors during SME Connect’25 to become suppliers for Yamaha’s manufacturing plans in India. Yamaha Motor Corp also expressed interest in the incentives and support available for their service-based business unit, MBSI, in India. The Government of Karnataka assured faster approvals. Following the meeting, the delegation took a short tour of the Yamaha Motor Museum, further solidifying the relationship between Karnataka and Yamaha Motor Corp.
Aichi Tokei Denki Ltd.
Shri M.B. Patil and the delegation also held discussions with key executives from Aichi Tokei Denki Ltd., including Mr. Kazuhisa Isomura, General Manager of the Water Equipment Sales Promotion Division; Mr. Kazuhisa Mori, Senior Executive Officer, General Manager, R&D Headquarters; Mr. Jun Nagamine, Executive Officer, General Manager, Overseas Business Division; Mr. Takahiro Tawada, Marketing Director, Water Global; and Mr. Yoshiaki Inaba, in charge of South Asia.
Aichi Tokei Denki Ltd., the largest water meter manufacturing company in Japan with the highest market share in large water meters, is looking to expand into the Indian market. The company is exploring both organic and inorganic growth channels and is particularly interested in government partnerships for public infrastructure projects. The Government of Karnataka will assist Aichi Tokei in finding reliable partners within the state and facilitate introductions to relevant departments such as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Urban Development Department. Bangalore faces significant unaccounted water loss, and a partnership with Aichi Tokei to provide highly accurate water meters could help mitigate water shortages and enhance water management in the city.
Brother Industries
Shri M.B. Patil and the delegation engaged in detailed discussions with Brother Industries, represented by Ichiro Sasaki, Representative Director & President, and Makoto Hoshi, Senior Managing Executive Officer. The meeting highlighted the upcoming operational status of the Brother factory in Japanese Industrial Township (JIT) Tumakuru which is set to commence with an eye on further expansion opportunities in the machine tools sector. Brother Industries showcased their technology-driven business, emphasizing sustainability initiatives, a strong global presence, and commitment to social issues. The company underscored the benefits of their compact-sized, energy-efficient machines, which are particularly suited for the Indian market and the automotive components industry. Furthermore, Brother Industries expressed interest in establishing R&D and technology centers in India and exploring partnerships with Bengaluru-based startups like Ethereal Machines to expand CNC machines and other innovative technologies. The discussion also covered the potential to significantly increase production capacity, with ambitions to double or even triple output at the new factory in India.