Guwahati, May 4: A high-level Japanese parliamentary delegation led by His Excellency Fukushiro Nukaga, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan, visited the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) to deepen Indo-Japan collaboration in science, technology, and innovation.
The delegation included four Members of Parliament, the former Japanese Ambassador to India, senior government officials, representatives from the Embassy of Japan in New Delhi, and 22 delegates from various Japanese industries. The visit highlighted the growing strategic partnership between India and Japan, grounded in shared democratic values and a commitment to sustainable development.
Welcoming the delegation, IIT Guwahati Director Prof. Devendra Jalihal outlined the institute’s global vision, achievements, and its role in advancing cutting-edge research. “We deeply value Japan’s longstanding friendship and its forward-looking approach to collaboration,” said Prof. Jalihal. “Our commitment is to work hand-in-hand with Japanese institutions to address global challenges through joint innovation.”
In his keynote address, Speaker Nukaga praised the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, emphasizing collaboration in emerging technologies, human resource development, and sustainable solutions. He called for expanded cooperation across research, education, and innovation, noting the influential roles both India and Japan play in the Eastern hemisphere.
The delegation toured key facilities at IIT Guwahati, including the Centre for Nanotechnology, where they inspected the state-of-the-art cleanroom—similar to those being developed at Assam’s upcoming Tata Semiconductor plant, a project supported by IIT Guwahati. They also examined several indigenous research projects in nanotechnology.
Later, at the Technology Incubation Centre and Research Park, delegates interacted with start-ups working in AI and healthcare. Several innovative medical and sustainable tech products were presented to Speaker Nukaga as mementoes.
The visit concluded with focused discussions between Japanese delegates, IIT Guwahati officials, and Assam government representatives. Talks centred on strengthening current academic and industrial partnerships and realizing the shared goal of facilitating 50,000 Indo-Japan student and research exchanges—an initiative endorsed by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Shigeru Ishiba.
