On 2 July 2026, the India-Japan Joint Economic Forum was held at the Taj Palace, New Delhi — organised by JETRO with Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, NEDO, Keidanren and the Japan Chamber of Commerce, and on the Indian side DPIIT, CII and FICCI. It was convened on the occasion of the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India, bringing the business communities of both countries into one hall. M2Labo was there as one of the participating companies.
01 ／ The leadersPrime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Takaichi, side by side
The heart of the day was the leaders' session. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi appeared together, the room changed. Both speeches carried the same message: trade, investment, energy, talent — the India-Japan relationship is being moved deliberately to its next stage.
02 ／ The Suzuki momentA new plant, celebrated by two governments
One scene stayed with us: the inauguration of Maruti Suzuki's new vehicle manufacturing facility at Kharkhoda, Haryana, celebrated from the forum stage by both leaders.
Suzuki is the pioneer and the symbol of Japanese business in India. For M2Labo — headquartered in the same Shizuoka, and working with Suzuki on joint projects — the moment landed personally. Manufacturing built the trust between these two countries. The question now is what gets built on top of it.
03 ／ The sessionsFrom energy to the North East — the talk was concrete
Four economic sessions ran through the afternoon: energy and critical minerals; economic security, innovation and talent; a Free and Open Indo-Pacific with "Make in India for the World" and Japan-India-Africa cooperation; and the development of India's North East through regional connectivity. The discussion went past slogans, into which industries, which partners, which projects.
And alongside the machinery and the minerals, Japanese food and agricultural products had their own showcase in the hall. Agriculture and food are no longer a footnote in the India-Japan story — they are becoming one of its chapters.
Handshakes at the top only matter if someone turns them into business on the ground.
── Our takeaway from the forum
04 ／ The roomThe next deals were already being discussed
Between sessions and over high tea, cards and conversations moved fast. That is the real value of a day like this: the distance between a policy and a partnership gets very short.
05 ／ Where we fitA bridge between Japanese technology and Indian ground reality
M2Labo grew up in Japan's agriculture and food industry, and has spent years building its own base and network in India. Tailwinds between governments become business only when someone does the unglamorous middle work — matching technology to a market, a partner to a partner, a plan to what the ground can actually carry. That middle is where we work.
- ◎Field visits & market research — agriculture and food, from production to distribution
- ◎Partner & distribution introductions — access to a trust-based network in India
- ◎Feasibility, honestly assessed — "the technology works, but will it pay?"
- ◎Hands-on market-entry support — for Japanese companies entering India, and Indian partners working with Japan
Japan × India, at ground level.
If the new India-Japan momentum touches your business — in agriculture, food, or beyond — start with a conversation.
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