UP-Japan Cooperation To Be Translated Into Concrete Projects

Lucknow witnessed the UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026 at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, where Yamanashi Prefecture Governor Kotaro Nagasaki emphasized that cooperation between Uttar Pradesh and Japan should move beyond dialogue and MoUs to tangible projects and opportunities. The goal is to benefit both sides long-term by merging India's growth trajectory with Japan's technology and human resources.

Governor Nagasaki thanked the Indian and Uttar Pradesh governments, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Japanese Embassy, and both countries' business communities for their participation in discussions held in Delhi, Noida, and Lucknow. These interactions helped pinpoint specific areas of cooperation. He urged Japanese companies to grasp India's development journey, Uttar Pradesh's policies, priorities, and industrial needs, and seek long-term partnerships with Indian entities and universities.

Human resources, especially nursing and related sectors, were highlighted as crucial cooperation areas. Nagasaki noted that demand in these fields is growing in Yamanashi, and Uttar Pradesh's large, capable workforce could provide a significant solution. However, the aim is not just to supply manpower but to develop human resources equipped to contribute across industries in Japan, Yamanashi, India, and Uttar Pradesh over the next two to three decades. Both sides must share responsibility for human resource development.

Tourism was also identified as a significant area of UP-Yamanashi collaboration. Nagasaki pointed out green hydrogen as a key pillar of future cooperation, noting Yamanashi's practical experience in creating a comprehensive hydrogen ecosystem, including production, storage, and industrial use via renewable energy. He stressed the importance of integrating the entire system, not just one technology.

Given Uttar Pradesh's renewable energy potential, industrial demand, and policy environment, a large-scale green hydrogen project modeled on Yamanashi's experience could be developed in the state.

Nagasaki called for scaling up green hydrogen cooperation from pilot projects to scalable business models, suggesting collaboration with Uttar Pradesh institutions and universities in training, research, operations, and maintenance. Jointly developing commercially viable technological solutions between Indian and Japanese companies was proposed.

The Governor encouraged continuous visits and interactions to solidify the relationship between the two sides, expressing confidence that this initiative linking Delhi, Lucknow, and Yamanashi would become a robust foundation for a lasting partnership.