Over 200 Japanese bigwigs to land in UP for mega investment push

Investment Push Takes Shape

Uttar Pradesh is rolling out its most ambitious outreach to Japan yet, with over 200 Japanese CEOs, business leaders and policymakers expected to arrive for the 'UP–Japan Investment Meet 2026', a five-day event running from August 19 to 23. The aim, according to state officials, is to translate Tokyo's interest in India's growth story into factories, technology and jobs in the state.

At the heart of the push are three projects proposed by Escorts Kubota and Minda Corporation in the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) area, with a combined investment of Rs 3,191 crore. The projects are expected to generate over 10,000 jobs, according to reports.

Projects and Ground-Breaking

As part of the meet, a virtual ground-breaking ceremony for these projects at YEIDA is being planned. Escorts Kubota—a joint venture between Escorts Limited and Japan's Kubota Corporation—will invest around Rs 2,025 crore in Sector 10 of the industrial zone. The plant will manufacture tractors, construction equipment and allied products for domestic and export markets, creating more than 3,800 jobs. Shingo Hanada, president and CEO of Kubota Corporation Japan, said the move marked an important milestone for the company as it expands its long-term commitment to Uttar Pradesh, noting that the state has emerged as one of India's fastest-growing industrial centres. He added, "Kubota and our Indian partners share the ambition of creating a strong export base for the future."

Minda Corporation has proposed two projects in Sectors 10 and 24, with an investment of around Rs 1,166 crore. These will manufacture ignition systems, wiring harnesses and mechatronics, and are expected to generate around 6,440 jobs. Akash Minda, executive director of Minda Corporation, said Uttar Pradesh has become a state of possibilities and new opportunities. He also said the company is looking to increase investment in advanced technology, motor parts, electric vehicle products, electronics, and design and development centres, while pursuing deeper localisation. Minda added that the company aims to create an additional 6,000–8,000 jobs in the state as it expands.

The Hindustan Times reported the combined investment figure as Rs 3,191 crore, and ThePrint corroborated these numbers for the Escorts and Minda projects.

A Dedicated 'Japanese City'

To anchor this manufacturing ecosystem, the state government is planning a dedicated 500-acre 'Japanese City' in the YEIDA area near Greater Noida. This plug-and-play cluster is expected to provide a base for Japanese manufacturers and strengthen integration, according to reports. Both the Hindustan Times and ThePrint highlighted this initiative, with the Hindustan Times describing it as a key part of the state's strategy to attract Japanese investment.

Five-Day Programme

The action kicks off on August 19 in Delhi with a CXO Roundtable attended by Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The delegation, led by Kotaro Nagasaki, Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, will be received in New Delhi on August 20 by Union minister Piyush Goyal and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Over the following days, delegates will visit Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, Greater Noida and Varanasi for government-to-business and business-to-business dialogues. The main summit is scheduled for August 21 at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow.

The agenda goes beyond breaking ground, with scouts for deals in green energy, semiconductors and electronics, skills, tourism (including the Buddhist Circuit), and talent across the state's industrial hubs. The Hindustan Times also reported that Galgotias University in Greater Noida will host talent and skilling sessions.

State and Official Pitch

Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna, Industries Minister Nand Gopal Gupta, Minister of State Jaswant Singh Saini and IIDC Deepak Kumar will lead the state's pitch, according to the Hindustan Times.

Chief Minister Adityanath has been a vocal advocate for the investor. He stated on Monday: "This is about converting dialogue into dollars, and commitments into factories. Japan's trust in UP is a vote of confidence in our $1 trillion economy vision." The words reflect the state's strategy to court Japanese firms, a outreach that has involved his own earlier visit to Japan in February, during which he met with executives from several companies, as per the Hindustan Times and ThePrint.