Neemrana (Rajasthan), Aug. 29 : Neemrana in Rajasthan is considered the best place in terms of infrastructure and facilities by Japanese automobile and electronic companies to set up manufacturing units.

The town, whioch is located about 75 miles from New Delhi, has India's first exclusive Japanese investment zone.

Twenty-four Japanese companies have already set up units in Neemrana. A total area of 270 acres has been allotted for Japanese investment.

The transformation is the result of an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and the Japanese External Trade Organization
(JETRO) in 2006.

The aim was to bring modern technology and management practices to the region. Rajasthan is inviting more business alliances between Japanese and Indian companies, as 45 per cent of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) will pass through its territory.

The DMIC, a mega infrastructure project of 90 billion dollars with the financial and technical aid from Japan, is likely to be developed on the public private partnership model.

"India is a kind of attractive place for the Japanese investment. So many Japanese companies are looking for investment in India," said Masaki Ida, chief director-general, Japan External Trade Organisation.

"Japanese are known to be extremely thorough in planning and in taking a decision. They do a lot of homework that we experienced after having association with Japanese people," added Rajendra Bhanawat, Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO).

Following Rajasthan, many other Indian states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar and Himachal Pradesh are looking to attract Japanese investment. They will be taking business delegations to Tokyo where India-Japan Global Partnership Summit will be held from September 5-7.

An initiative of India Center Foundation, a non-profitable organization working for India Japan Global Partnership sine last 15 years, the Summit will bring together business leaders, experts, researchers and opinion leaders not only from India and Japan but also across the world.

The summit will include India-Japan Expo and four concurrent forums, namely Business forum, Academic forum, Policy forum and Youth Cultural & NGO forum.

It will focus on multiple sectors such as agriculture, energy, manufacturing, healthcare, banking, information and communication technologies.

The north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, where Japanese investment already exists, is looking forward for more ventures in sectors like Tourism Infrastructure.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal said: "Recently we came into an agreement with them for diversification of agriculture and organic farming. It is a worth 321 crore project. And we would like to have more such projects in the state in the field of tourism also."

Bihar, known as the birthplace of Buddhism, is looking for a strong partnership with Japan to develop infrastructure for tourism and education.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency has agreed to finance 556 million dollars for the construction of four-lane Gaya-Biharsharif and Patna-Dobhi highways in Bihar.

Japan will also fund the setting up an international university in Nalanda in Bihar.

"We would like to create a greater awareness in Japan of what of Nalanda University is about. what its vision is and what we look for meaningful partnership with Japan is not only the construction of the university but in terms of faculty, in terms of scholarship, in terms of research and I think Bihar therefore is well poised to look to Japan both for investment and also for intellectual capital," said N. K. Singh, a bureaucrat-turned politician and a member of the Nalanda Mentor Group.

The India Japan Global Partnership Summit, in which over 150 speakers and 4,000 delegates are expected to participate, will be beneficial for the Indian and Japanese business fraternity.

At one of the conclaves exclusively designed for Small and Medium Enterprises, the businesses can form strategic joint ventures, alliances and partnerships.

Since Japanese SME's have a high reputation in the world for their technology, they are looking for an alliance with Indian SMEs to propel their businesses. It would also help Indian SMEs expand their businesses.

"Japanese industry's strength lies in its small & medium enterprises. It is those enterprises, which require certain amount of organizational support- come and interact with India," said Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, chairman of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC).

"Our mission is to establish the industrial culture of India in a systematic way where energy, environment and sustainability be addressed. We can address these three things along with Japan. Then whatever technology is required - it will mainly come from Japan. We also have some technologies. We will see which is better and how can we regionalize the technology to India's needs," said Vibhav Kant Upadhyay, founder and director-general, IJGPS, and chairman of India Center.

At a time when Japan is recovering from devastating tsunami and earthquake, its partnership with India will prove to be beneficial for both nations. And the "India-Japan Global Partnership Summit" will help in bringing two great civilizations - India and Japan - closer. (ANI)