By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 1: The 6th edition of the India-Japan Intellectual Conclave, ‘KIZUNA-6 – Scaling up Partnerships’, concluded here on Saturday, following three days of high-level discussions on regional connectivity and economic integration.
Organised by Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Embassy of Japan, the Meghalaya government and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, the event brought together policymakers, diplomats and industry leaders from national and multinational organisations, including JBIC, JETRO and JICA.
In his inaugural address, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma highlighted the expanding partnership between India and Japan in infrastructure, agriculture and human resource mobility. He outlined Meghalaya’s priorities, including high-value agriculture and positioning the state as a regional cultural and sports hub.
The Ambassador of Japan, Ono Keiichi, stressed the strategic relevance of Northeast India within a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific’ framework.
Reaffirming this commitment, Japan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Horii Iwao, stated that Japan would support connectivity projects linking Northeast India to the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean, alongside private-sector cooperation in semiconductors and clean energy.
The conclave also featured business sessions focused on the semiconductor ecosystem, circular economy and talent mobility.
A Japanese delegation also paid visit to the Tata Semiconductor Plant site in Jagiroad, Assam.
Regional cooperation was a key theme, with Indra Mani Pandey (Secretary General, BIMSTEC) and Riaz Hamidullah (High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India) discussing maritime security and cross-border connectivity. Representatives from Bhutan and Nepal also highlighted opportunities in sustainable growth and energy partnerships.
On the final day, delegates visited the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Dawki, where they were briefed by the Land Port Authority of India on its role in facilitating trade.
The delegation also visited Mawlynnong and Umngot Lake to gain insights into Meghalaya’s tourism-driven economy.
“KIZUNA-6 concluded with a shared resolve to translate discussions into actionable partnerships aimed at strengthening connectivity, resilience and inclusive growth across the Indo-Pacific, with renewed emphasis on Northeast India–Japan cooperation,” a statement in this regard said.
