Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday invited the Uniqlo brand to Madhya Pradesh, as the state – a producer of rare, unique, naturally coloured cotton – sought to attract marquee brands with its investor-friendly policies, availability of land, and skilled workforce.
The Chief Minister also held extensive discussions on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh with Susumu Kataoka, Chairman of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and his delegation at Minato-ku, Tokyo.
During the meeting, the CM invited JETRO to establish an office in the state, which is strategically located in the heart of India.
"JETRO stated that the upcoming 'Global Investors Summit' will be an excellent platform for Japanese companies to understand investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh and strengthen partnerships. JETRO will assist in inviting more Japanese companies to the event and enhancing investment collaboration," the Chief Minister said in a post on X.
In a day packed with back-to-back meetings and wide-ranging discussions, the CM also interacted extensively with Tadashi Yanai, the dynamic founder of clothing retailer Uniqlo.
Tadashi aims to replicate the model used in the US, where smaller farmers are involved in cotton farming and production. The CM welcomed him and the Uniqlo brand to Madhya Pradesh, expressing his eagerness for the partnership. Given that Tadashi is a well-respected name in global business circles, a deeper collaboration would be mutually beneficial for both the state and the brand.
Madhya Pradesh is the only producer of rare, unique, naturally coloured cotton in India. The state also has vast farmland, sound labour policies, peaceful unions, and good water availability for cotton farming.
Yadav also met Shohei Hara, Senior Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), to discuss Japan's expertise in technology transfer, trade support, and youth employment initiatives in Madhya Pradesh.
"Our discussions focused on JICA's potential contributions to public and private sector enterprises in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in infrastructure and hydropower projects," the Chief Minister said in another post.
At Bridgestone's headquarters in Tokyo, the CM also held in-depth discussions with the Global CEO of Bridgestone Corporation, Shuichi Ishibashi, and CEOs of various companies. The talks centred on investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh.
Yadav also held extensive discussions with Yuji Fukasawa, Chair of the Committee for South Asia at Keidanren and Chairman of East Japan Railway Company. The discussions focused on exploring opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration between Japan and India, with an emphasis on world-renowned Japanese railway technology.
The Chief Minister also met Daiki Arai, Director of A&D Medical, on the second day of his high-profile visit to Japan. The company expressed keen interest in setting up a manufacturing facility in the state, potentially within this year.
Earlier in the day, Yadav held talks with Japan's Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hisashi Matsumoto, to discuss strengthening Indo-Japan ties and boosting cooperation at the state level. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is currently on a four-day visit to Japan and is holding extensive talks to showcase the state's immense potential to investors.
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