GUWAHATI, India (Diya TV) — Assam is preparing to host one of the most important international visits to the Northeast in recent years as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to arrive in Guwahati on July 1 for a bilateral summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit is expected to strengthen India-Japan relations and bring fresh investment opportunities to Assam and the wider Northeast region. Moreover, Japanese media reports indicate that Takaichi will travel with a delegation of more than 50 business leaders from some of Japan’s largest companies. According to reports, executives from Suzuki Motor, Itochu Corporation, and Toyota Tsusho will join the delegation. During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss economic cooperation, infrastructure projects, technology partnerships, and regional connectivity. In addition, several companies may sign agreements related to manufacturing, energy, and semiconductor development.
The summit will take place in Guwahati instead of New Delhi. India and Japan take turns hosting their annual bilateral summit, and this year India is the host nation. Therefore, the decision to hold the meeting in Assam highlights the growing strategic importance of India’s Northeast. This will be Takaichi’s first visit to India since she became Japan’s prime minister in October 2025. At the same time, the visit reflects the growing partnership between the two countries under the Special Strategic and Global Partnership framework.
Japan has played a major role in supporting development projects across India’s Northeast. Over the years, Tokyo has funded roads, bridges, and clean energy initiatives through official development assistance programs. Furthermore, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation has backed several projects in Assam. The upcoming summit is expected to focus on investment, trade, and technology. Japanese companies have shown increasing interest in Assam because the state is emerging as a center for semiconductor manufacturing and digital infrastructure. Large investments from Indian companies such as the Tata Group, Adani, and Reliance Industries have also attracted international attention.
As a result, Japanese firms see new opportunities in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and supply chain development. These sectors could support future industrial growth in Assam and create jobs across the region. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stepped up preparations for the high-profile visit. In recent days, he reviewed facilities and security arrangements at the new terminal of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. The state government has also launched beautification efforts across the city ahead of the summit.
Sarma has repeatedly said that such visits can open new doors for Assam’s economy. He has also stressed the importance of connecting the state with global investment networks and international markets. The visit also carries historical significance. In December 2019, former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was scheduled to attend a summit with Modi in Guwahati. However, authorities canceled the event because widespread protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act created security concerns and disrupted normal life in the city.
State leaders have often described the cancellation as a missed opportunity for Assam. Consequently, the successful hosting of the upcoming summit would mark an important moment for the state and demonstrate its growing stability and international appeal. Beyond economic issues, Modi and Takaichi are expected to discuss regional security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. Both countries support a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. Therefore, the summit could further strengthen strategic coordination between New Delhi and Tokyo.
The meeting is also likely to reinforce the goals of the Act East Policy and the Act East Forum. These initiatives aim to improve connectivity between India’s Northeast and Southeast Asia while promoting trade and investment.
