Shillong Highlighting Japan’s role as a key development partner for Meghalaya, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the bilateral relationship extends beyond infrastructure to include youth empowerment, agriculture and sustainable livelihoods.
Addressing the inaugural session of the 6th India-Japan Intellectual Meeting ‘Kizuna’ here on Thursday evening, Sangma said India-Japan relations are based on mutual respect, democratic values and a shared vision of economic cooperation and sustainable development.
“Given the strength of the relationship between Japan and India, ‘Kizuna’ is the most appropriate topic for the secret meeting,” he said.
Elaborating on Meghalaya’s engagement with Japan, the Prime Minister said the partnership is not just about infrastructure but also about investing in people.
He said that 47 state nurses had been appointed to Japan, and that after his visit to Japan in April 2025, a memorandum of understanding was signed with a Japanese company to train and employ 500 young people this year, increasing to 5,000 over the next five years.
The country has also collaborated with a company to facilitate the employment of skilled youth in Japan, while a Japanese language training center has been set up in Shillong to equip aspiring candidates with language proficiency.
In the field of agricultural innovation, Sangma said India’s first commercial production of shiitake blocks is being implemented in Upper Shillong with technological and marketing support from Japanese company YATS.
He said the facility has the capacity to produce 150,000 inoculated shiitake pieces annually and is expected to benefit more than 1,000 farmers in the state.
The Chief Minister said that Meghalaya is also exploring production of its own sake using local rice in partnership with Sasaki Sake Brewery.
Referring to the long-standing partnership with JICA, he said the agency has invested heavily in infrastructure, sustainable forestry and tourism in the state.
He added that under the MegLIFE project supported by JICA, 22,500 hectares of forest are being restored in 500 villages in 11 districts.
Sangma said the renovation of the Umiam Hydropower Station and the Umiam-Umtru Phase III Hydropower Station is being implemented with support from JICA.
He also pointed out that the nearly 19 km long river bridge connecting Dhubri in Assam and Phulwari in Meghalaya is mainly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Noting that 74 per cent of Meghalaya’s population is below 35 years of age, Sangma proposed setting up a skills corridor between Meghalaya and Japan.
“Meghalaya’s youthful energy can be combined with Japan’s technological mastery,” he said.
He also highlighted cultural collaboration, noting that the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival has featured an exclusive Japanese pavilion for the past two years, showcasing Japanese traditions, cuisine and live performances.
The Prime Minister called on Japanese companies and academic institutions to partner with the country, and said that key areas of cooperation could include the circular economy, climate resilience, technology, agriculture and sustainable tourism.
Earlier, Sangma visited an exhibition of artefacts from Imphal Peace Museum and North East Archives.
The program was attended by Ambassador of Japan to India Ono Kiiichi, Nie J. Gangtei, Secretary and Head of the Office of the Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Acting Director-General of ICWA, Takuro Takeuchi, and Chief Representative of JICA India.
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