By Kawalpreet Kaur
Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe will pay a three-day official visit to India from January 25 during which he will attend the Republic Day Parade as Chief Guest and hold talks on key issues with Dr. Manmohan Singh for the bilateral annual summit. The discussions between the two Prime Ministers “will add substance and content to the India-Japan Strategic and Global Partnership”
The past decade has seen an unprecedented level of engagement between both countries, underlined by regular annual summit meetings between their Prime Ministers. This intensive engagement has persisted despite the many changes of government in Tokyo. Mr. Abe was given a second chance in December 2012, when his Liberal Democratic Party won a resounding victory amid public dissatisfaction with a series of governments that failed to revive a stagnating economy.
Mr. Abe has made clear that his government is looking to reinvigorate the relationship with India, which has been framed by his aides as a central pillar to his governments foreign policy objectives for the region. There is a strong case for saying that expanding engagement with Japan is the most important bilateral relationship in Indias foreign policy. Japan and India are also trying to finalize an agreement on civilian nuclear energy that would open up the Indian market to Japanese players but it is unlikely to be signed soon.
If Tokyo is able to achieve what it wants from India, the result would be enormous economic transformation and improvement of Indias manufacturing sector. Tokyos interest in using the mammoth cross-border capital flows of its corporations and financial institutions to recreate that led Japan to transform Southeast Asia.
Japanese investments have continued to play a crucial role in building Indias infrastructure, including the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Japanese assistance towards a Chennai-Bangalore high-speed rail project is expected to figure during Mr. Abes visit. Trade between both countries reached $ 18.6 billion last year. According to the Japanese governments figures, investment into India grew from 15 billion Yen ($ 145 million) in 2004 to 543 billion ($ 5.25 billion) in 2008. In 2011, the figure stood at 181 billion ($ 1.75 billion). Cumulative development assistance committed to India, according to government figures, has reached 3800 billion Yen ($ 36.7 billion). When completed it will catapult India into top rungs of the international trade. If thousands of Japanese firms move here afterwards, the days of India being a manufacturing wannabe would be over.
But the fact cant be denied that Japan sees India, especially under Mr. Abe, in a strategic light and is willing to go extra miles. India should not shrink from embracing Japan. It is in Indias interest to, have a friend who is committed to make it something greater than it is.
Kawalpreet is passionate about politics. She sees herself as a politician of principles in future. A feminist, awarded debater, ardent reader and an art lover. She has written extensively in the past about social issues, women and politics for various organizations.. Interested in politics, ancient history, literature, womens and social issues. She believes in leading by example and is working with various nongovernmental organisations. You can connect with her by leaving a mail at kawalpreet303@yahoo.in.