External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday emphasized the strategic importance of India-Japan semiconductor cooperation at the India-Japan Forum’s Inaugural Session, calling it a key driver of global geopolitical change.
Jaishankar noted that both nations are revitalizing their semiconductor industries while also collaborating with Taiwan, paving the way for a transformative partnership in this crucial sector.
“Japan is today revitalizing its semiconductor sector, and India, after a very long period of neglect, has announced a semiconductor mission. There are a lot of developments taking place. Interestingly, both of us are also working with Taiwan. I’m seeing the beginnings of something potentially important here, something significant for both countries,” he said, underlining the strategic importance of the initiative.
He acknowledged the nascent stage of this collaboration but highlighted its exceptional promise, ranking it among the top five areas of focus despite its early phase.
“Normally, I would say, ‘Okay, it’s just beginning…,’ but in this case, I would make an exception because I think this is such a vital field that will significantly influence geopolitical dynamics in the coming decade,” he remarked.
Jaishankar also stressed the growing interest and determination among stakeholders from both nations to deepen ties and address past shortcomings in their bilateral relationship.
“I hear much more discussion, interest, and initiatives from organizations and individuals involved in the relationship. On one level, there is some dissatisfaction about why we haven’t done more, but also a determination that we want to do more,” he said. He added that industry-level initiatives, such as boosting training and language skills, have been promising steps forward.
Touching upon higher education reforms, Jaishankar noted that India is now more open to collaborative efforts in this area, including student exchanges and establishing joint campuses.
“To me, this ferment today—this desire to improve and enhance the quality of the relationship—would be the last one,” he concluded, emphasizing a renewed commitment to strengthening India-Japan ties.