• The Memorandum signed in Hiroshima The partnership will facilitate business connection between Japanese companies and Indian tech companies to promote co-create theme with technological advancements for the global markets.
New Delhi, November 4, 2018 : As part of its continuous efforts to enter new markets and extend the
development of new geographies, the National Association of Software and Services Companies
(NASSCOM) has signed a letter of intent with Prefecture Govt of Hiroshima. The Hiroshima government
will co-invest with NASSCOM in creating Japan India IT Corridor that could be at the forefront of
promoting B2B cooperation and talent transfer from India to Japan. This project will be formally initiated
by early 2019 on mutual consent.
Both and NASSCOM and Hiroshima shall invite their respective companies with chosen capabilities to
come forward and join this partnership platform to co-create for the global markets leveraging their
respective strengths from hardware and software domains promoting Digital partnership between Japan
and India. Both parties agreed to setup IT Corridor in Hiroshima with incentive package that could be
extended to the Indian tech companies that come forward to adopt this platform while forming
partnership with Japanese companies.
The primary objective of this IT corridor will be to facilitate partnerships between Indian and Japanese
companies. Indian companies with their command on the software side can help Japanese
manufacturing companies adopt digital transformation and helping them create innovative product &
solutions lines. This partnership is further expected to create IT jobs in Hiroshima and India and facilitate
talent transfer from India to Japan. Hiroshima is in the process of setting itself up as an IT hub after
being host to large manufacturing industries that are facing stiff competition.
Atsuhito Uemaru, Chief of Innovation Promotion, Hiroshima Prefectural Government, said, ”We
have cutting edge manufacturing technology, the brand new School of Informatics and Data Science at
Hiroshima University and other high-class institutions, and top-class incentive packages for companies
setting up new offices in Hiroshima. For achieving sustainable growth in Hiroshima, what we lack is a
cluster of IT and software industry. Through our collaboration with NASSCOM, we would like to serve as
a gateway for Indian companies to enter the Japanese market and vice versa, to build an ecosystem
beneficial for the growth of both Indian and Hiroshima companies. ”
Commenting on the collaboration, Gagan Sabharwal, Senior Director, Global Trade Development,
NASSCOM, said, “We are really happy to pursue this cooperation with Hiroshima Govt and see this as a big step forward towards establishing Indo Japanese cooperation in the new Digital era. We are hoping to witness significant advancements in technology and innovation through the partnerships that emerge as a result of this association. This collaboration will act as a building block towards strengthening the Indo-Japan relationship and we are looking forward to work with Hiroshima in the months ahead.”
Ambassador H. E. Sujan R. Chinoy commenting on the new tie-up said “Cooperation between India and Japan in the area of ICT has seen tremendous progress over the past year, particularly in 2018. We were able to establish the first Startup hub in Bengaluru in accordance with the agreement reached between the two Prime Ministers at the last Summit meeting. With the setting up of NASSCOM-Hiroshima IT Corridor we are creating a mechanism to enhance our corporate partnership in the area of digital technologies. This would also pave the way for larger and smoother movement of talent and Human Resources, which is so critical in high tech areas. This corridor would be an important strand of the emerging multi-dimensional India-Japan Digital Partnership.”
Hiroshima has already established itself as a manufacturing hub with several companies setting up base
in the city and now aims at digitally transforming the local industry. This will help the local companies to
do their business in a more efficient manner. The inclusion of foreign talent is a welcome step in this
direction.
Under the memorandum signed, both parties agree to undertake a process of thorough due diligence
with assistance of relevant partners and local companies, focused on (a) Talent availability, (b) Local
demand potential and (c) Policy benefits & funding support to determine the mutual viability and long term feasibility of setting up an IT Corridor in Hiroshima.
