Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb met Ambassador of Japan to India, Amb. Kenji Hiramatsu in Agartala

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb met Ambassador of Japan to India, Amb. Kenji Hiramatsu friday in Agartala.

They discussed various aspects including trade, industry, infrastructure and people-to-people contact through exchange programmes.

This is the first-ever visit of the Ambassador in Tripura. Hiramatsu said after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Japan last year, the two countries have decided to cooperate in different development sectors including connectivity, forest management and supporting local communities in making bamboo-based handicrafts.

“We are happy to support bamboo industries in Tripura and we have sent experts to the bamboo and cane development institute in Tripura,” he said. The Ambassador said that Japan would like to see more infrastructure and incentives from the local government for setting up industries in the region.

“We are trying to encourage Japanese companies to set up industries in the region,” he said. Hiramatsu said that the trade relations between the two countries are very cordial and Japanese companies have set up many automobile and electronics manufacturing units in other parts of the country.

“We also want companies to come to the northeastern region,” he added. He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended help in developing bamboo-based handicrafts in the state.

Deb said that Japanese Ambassador Hiramatsu has taken interest in the food processing, rubber industries and handicraft of the State.

He added that Ambassador Hiramatsu informed that Japan is keen to take part in the development process of Tripura and has already sanctioned around Rs 1000 crores under the JICA phase two.

According to Deb, the Ambassador opined that with the Japanese language course introduced in the State there would be huge scopes for the local youths especially the nursing students for employment in Japan as there is huge demand for trained nurses there.