New Delhi, March 19: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to announce a plan to invest 5 trillion yen / $42 billion in India over five years when he visits the country on Saturday, according to reports.
Kishida is due to reveal the public-private funding during an economic forum. He is expected to pledge growth in direct investment in terms of value, as well as an increase in Japanese companies expanding into India.
Kishida is also poised to agree to an approximately 300 billion yen loan during his meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi. Also, an energy co-operation document concerning carbon reduction is expected to be signed.
The 5 trillion yen goal tops the 3.5 trillion yen in investment and financing over 5 years that then-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe announced during his 2014 visit to India. Tokyo is currently supporting India's urban infrastructure development as well as a high-speed railway based on Japan's shinkansen bullet train technology.
India represents the first leg of Kishida's 3-day tour. He is scheduled to arrive in Cambodia on Sunday to meet with PM Hun Sen.
Japan and India are party to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, a security framework known as the Quad that includes the U.S. and Australia. Cambodia serves as this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
In 2020, Japan and India signed an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement, which allows for reciprocal provisions of food, fuel and other supplies between the Indian army and Japan's Self-Defense Forces. Kishida and Modi are to reaffirm that they will push that deal forward.
Kishida and Modi are expected to agree to convene a two-plus-two meeting between the two countries diplomatic and defense chiefs at an early date.
This will be Kishida's first overseas trip as prime minister since he traveled to Great Britain in November.