The Hindu Business Line : Indo-Japanese chamber branch in Bangalore soon

AN Indo-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry would soon start functioning from Bangalore to represent the interests of Karnataka for promoting business and trade.

Karnataka ranks second after Delhi in housing the largest number of registered Japanese companies, and the automobile giant, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Ltd, shares the honour of being the largest investor among the Japanese business. Of the total 265 registered Japanese companies operating in India, 16 per cent or 51 companies are located in Bangalore and parts of Karnataka.

Mr M.K. Ramachandra, President of the Indo-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that with increasing interest shown by Japanese companies in India, a structured organisation could help in galvanising the growing potential in a variety of fields in which Karnataka could offer its expertise.

He said the Chamber has been set up under the advice and guidance of Mr Ryuko Kikuchi, Consul General of Japan, Chennai, and he hoped that large number of Japanese companies in Karnataka would patronise it for furthering the cause of business and industry of both the countries.

The Chamber is being formally inaugurated by Mr Azim Premji, Chairman, Wipro Group, on Monday evening. Incidentally, Wipro is the largest investor out of about 20 Indian IT companies operating in Japan.

Mr Ramachandra, a former president of the Bangalore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCIC), said Karnataka with its rich experience in IT, pharma, garments and various other sectors could provide a low cost manufacturing base for Japanese industry for re-exports.

Later addressing a function to mark the inauguration of the chamber, Mr Azim Premji, Chairman of the Wipro Group, said a stronger Indo-Japanese bilateral relations would mean a more stable and prosperous Asia.

Japan is the business hub of Asia's growing economies and is rated as the world's second largest market with the prospect of a high level of personal consumption growth.

He said areas identified by Japan for foreign investment - information and communication technology (ICT), biotechnology, medical care and environment - have good potential for co-operation between the two countries.

Until recently, the Indo-Japan Centre was promoting the cultural bonds between the two nations and was also involved in teaching the Japanese language. The conversion of this centre into a chamber of commerce is a great step ahead to promote trade between Japan and India.

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