Guwahati : Japan has reiterated its commitment to strengthening its partnership with Assam under India’s Act East Policy, with Japanese Ambassador to India, Ono Keiichi, assuring continued cooperation in key sectors during a telephonic conversation with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

The Chief Minister said on Friday that the discussion, held on Thursday evening, focused on expanding collaboration in areas such as electronics, semiconductors, infrastructure, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, signalling Japan’s sustained interest in the state’s economic development agenda.

Sharing details of the conversation on social media, Sarma said Ambassador Ono reaffirmed the Japanese government’s commitment to deepening its engagement with Assam and supporting the state’s growth under the framework of India’s Act East Policy.

 “Delighted to have received a phone call from H.E. Ono Keiichi, the Ambassador of Japan to India last evening. He reaffirmed the Japanese Government’s commitment to deepen its ongoing partnership with Assam under India’s Act East Policy,” the Chief Minister wrote.

According to Sarma, both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation across several strategic sectors, including electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, which have emerged as priority areas for investment and industrial expansion.

The discussions also covered infrastructure development, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, with Assam seeking to attract greater Japanese participation in projects aimed at boosting economic growth and employment generation.

The Chief Minister said the state government looks forward to engaging with Japanese businesses and institutions in the coming months to explore fresh investment opportunities and deepen economic ties.

The renewed assurance from Japan comes at a significant time, shortly after the proposed visit of Japan’s Prime Minister to Assam was cancelled. Despite the cancellation, the latest interaction between the Assam government and the Japanese envoy indicates that bilateral engagement and investment-related cooperation remain on track.

Japan has been a key partner in several infrastructure and development initiatives in India’s Northeast, with Assam increasingly positioning itself as a gateway to Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy. The state government has been actively courting foreign investment in sectors ranging from electronics and manufacturing to logistics and technology, with Japanese participation viewed as crucial to these efforts.

Officials believe stronger collaboration with Japanese enterprises could help accelerate industrial growth, enhance technological capabilities and create new avenues for entrepreneurship across Assam.