By Uttar Pradesh is preparing to deepen its economic ties with Japan through the UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026, with more than 200 Japanese business leaders, CEOs and policy representatives expected to participate in the August 18–23 programme. The state government is looking to turn Japanese interest in Uttar Pradesh into concrete investments, technology partnerships, manufacturing projects and large-scale employment.
The investment drive is also closely linked to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ambition of building Uttar Pradesh into a $1 trillion economy. Manufacturing, clean energy, semiconductors, digital infrastructure, skill development and tourism are among the sectors being explored, while the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region is emerging as a key destination for Japanese manufacturing.
Five-day programme across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
The programme is being organised by Invest UP and will include business and government interactions in Delhi, Lucknow, Agra, Greater Noida and Varanasi. The objective is to provide Japanese companies with a direct platform to interact with senior government officials, Indian businesses and educational institutions.
The Japanese delegation is being led by Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki. During the visit, representatives will examine investment opportunities and potential collaborations across several sectors.
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Japanese delegation in Delhi on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the investment-focused programme.
The government wants the initiative to go beyond investment announcements by encouraging joint ventures, technology transfer and projects that can generate employment. It is also aimed at positioning Uttar Pradesh as a competitive destination for international investors.
CEO roundtable to focus on investment opportunities
A high-level CEO roundtable and opening session will be held on August 19 at Taj Palace in New Delhi. Union ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Shivraj Singh Chouhan, along with senior representatives from government and industry, are expected to participate.
The discussions will focus on new investment opportunities, industrial cooperation, emerging technologies and long-term business partnerships between India and Japan.
Main investment meet in Lucknow on August 21
The principal state-level investment programme will take place on August 21 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow.
Government-to-Business (G2B) and Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking sessions will form an important part of the event. Japanese investors will be able to directly discuss potential projects with state government officials and Indian companies.
The sessions are expected to focus on identifying viable projects, investment partnerships and the practical steps required to take proposals towards implementation.
Major Japanese companies to participate
Senior representatives from several prominent Japanese and Japan-linked companies are expected at the investment meet. These include JETRO, Escorts Kubota, Kubota Corporation Japan, Toshiba India, Motherson Group, Setolas Asia, Honda Trading Corporation India, Daikin Airconditioning India, Sumitomo Corporation India, Spark Minda, Toyo Denso and Panasonic, among others.
Their participation could give the state an opportunity to attract fresh investments while encouraging existing Japanese businesses to expand their operations in Uttar Pradesh.
Escorts Kubota project could bring ₹2,025 crore investment
One of the key highlights of the programme will be the virtual ground-breaking ceremony for projects involving Escorts Kubota and Minda Corporation.
Escorts Kubota has proposed a ₹2,025 crore project in Sector 10 of YEIDA. The facility is expected to manufacture tractors, construction equipment and related products for both domestic and export markets.
The project could create more than 3,800 jobs, adding another major manufacturing facility to the emerging industrial ecosystem around the Yamuna Expressway.
Minda projects worth ₹1,166 crore
Minda Corporation is developing two projects in YEIDA, in Sector 10 and Sector 24, with a combined proposed investment of around ₹1,166 crore.
The projects are expected to manufacture ignition switch-cum-steering locks, mechatronic components, wiring harnesses and related connection systems. Together, they are projected to generate approximately 6,440 employment opportunities.
Combined with the Escorts Kubota project, the two Minda projects represent a proposed investment of around ₹3,191 crore and the potential creation of more than 10,000 jobs.
500-acre ‘Japanese City’ planned at YEIDA
The state government is also planning a dedicated 500-acre ‘Japanese City’ in the YEIDA region to expand the Japanese manufacturing ecosystem.
The proposed industrial zone is intended to bring Japanese companies, their suppliers and ancillary industries closer together. The idea is to develop an integrated supply chain around major manufacturing units rather than limiting investment to individual factories.
Such an ecosystem could support technology transfer, strengthen local supplier networks and encourage the growth of ancillary industries. It could also create additional employment beyond the jobs generated directly by large Japanese companies.
Focus shifts from MoUs to projects on the ground
For Uttar Pradesh, the investment meet represents an effort to move the conversation with Japanese businesses from investment proposals to actual projects, production capacity and employment.
The planned Japanese City, along with the proposed Escorts Kubota and Minda facilities, could give YEIDA a stronger position in the state’s manufacturing strategy. If these projects progress as planned, Japanese investment could also help Uttar Pradesh build deeper industrial supply chains and expand its presence in export-oriented manufacturing.
