Bengaluru: Karnataka govt has called for more Japanese investment in the state across industries. S Selvakumar, principal secretary, commerce and industries department, said the state offers more than a destination for Japanese businesses.Speaking at the India-Japan Business Summit 2026 organised by Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, he appealed: “To every Japanese company here, the message is simple: bring your technology and we’ll bring the talent, land and partnership.”Drawing applause from the crowd, he mentioned that Karnataka has long been one of Japan’s most active economic bridges with India. “With regard to technology, Karnataka is India’s largest chip design hub, with over 100 fabulous design houses, and 800+ research and development centres, making it the ideal place for Japanese companies to develop and localise advanced tech,” he added.Hirotsugu Ueda, vice-governor of Japan’s Tokushima Prefecture (an administrative division), revealed that eight companies from Tokushima across various sectors are currently in Bengaluru looking for strategic opportunities. The companies, he said, included two regional banks, those from construction machinery, logistics clearance, glass processing and packaging sectors. “It will serve as an opportunity to expand the economic ties with India,” he added.Hiroshi Nawata, consul general of Japan in Bengaluru, said Karnataka was home to more than 200 Japanese companies and over 500 Japanese establishments, reflecting the depth of the economic relationship between the two sides. “Bengaluru’s strengths in information technology, artificial intelligence, research and innovation complement Japan’s expertise in engineering, manufacturing, robotics and industrial excellence,” Nawata said.
