Japan likes to be a partner in national manufacturing policy: JETRO India chief

New Delhi: Japan wants to be a partner while rolling out India's national manufacturing policy which aims at creating 100 million jobs and enhancing the country's share in the GDP to 25 per cent in 10 years.

Japan External Trade Organization ( JETRO), an arm of the ministry of economy, trade and commerce is likely to propose to Indian government that Japan should be declared a partner country while promoting India's manufacturing policy.

N Noguchi, JETRO's chief director general in India told ET that most of 820 Japanese companies which are active in India are in manufacturing sector, and many more such companies are willing to shift their bases to India. Hit by economic downturn, the Japanese market is shrinking every day and most of the Japanese companies want to shift bases outside the country.

"After the disastrous flood in Thailand last year, many Japanese companies realized they should not concentrate their manufacturing centers only in one place. They want to set up manufacturing facilities in India so as to minimize risks", Noguchi said.

Noguchi who had an earlier innings in India between 2005 and 2010, said many Japanese companies were also enthused by the success story of the newly developed Neemrana industrial area in Rajasthan. Over 30 Japanese companies including Daikin Air-conditioning, Nissin Brake, Mitsui Chemical etc. are setting up their plants in Neemrana area.

"Japanese companies are already contributing to manufacturing sector in India. But if we officially partner with India's national manufacturing policy, the process will get a momentum," said Noguchi.

Toyota, Nissan reopen plants in Japan

NEW DELHI: In early signs of recovery for the Japanese auto industry, Toyota , Nissan and Mitsubishi have decided to reopen some plants. However, full-fledged production is still some time off.

The fate of a large number of component vendors as well as power supply shortages are the biggest concerns for Japanese auto companies like Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Nissan. This is also an irritant for their Indian subsidiaries, which depend in varying degrees on the parent for crucial component and technology support.

Toyota, which closed down all plants in Japan after the March 11 quake, decided to reopen seven plants in Aichi prefecture from Thursday, a spokesman said in Tokyo. However, it will keep 21 plants shut until March 22. On the other hand, Nissan and an affiliate would reopen one plant on Thursday and another on March 18. Two factories, however, will remain closed until March 20, while another will operate partially. No decision has been made on reopening a sixth plant.

Mitsubishi also resumed production at its three plants in central and western Japan. These will continue running through Thursday, though no decision has been made about continuing output thereafter. But the plants of auto giants like Honda and Suzuki are still closed. Honda and Mazda said plants will be closed until March 20. Suzuki, the parent of Maruti, also said that all Japanese factories will be shut until March 21.