4th India-Japan Business Conference 2025 to Drive Future-Ready Partnerships in Chennai

Future-Ready Indo-Japan Partnerships in Technology, Trade, and Sustainability Take Center Stage

Chennai, July 1, 2025.

The city of Chennai is set to host the 4th India-Japan Business Conference on Thursday, July 10, at the Madras Management Association, bringing together some of the most influential voices in Indo-Japan relations. Organized by the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC), this year’s edition is themed "Accelerating Indo-Japan Partnerships in Technology, Trade, and Sustainability."

Delegates and speakers gathered at the 3rd India-Japan Business Conference in Mumbai, engaging in discussions on trade, technology, and bilateral cooperation.

The conference will convene senior government officials, leading business figures, SME innovators, and policy strategists from both countries in an effort to build future-ready collaborations that support bilateral trade, digital transformation, sustainable development, and people-to-people connections.

“This is more than a conference—it’s a catalyst for co-creation,” said Siddharth Deshmukh, President of IJBC. “Together with our Japanese partners, we are shaping ecosystems that combine innovation with impact.”

Key Highlights and Conference Program

The 4th India-Japan Business Conference will begin with a formal opening ceremony, featuring a welcome address by Siddharth Deshmukh, President of the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC). The session will be graced by Mr. Takahashi Muneo, Consul-General of Japan in Chennai, and Mrs. Geetanjali Kirloskar, Chairperson and Managing Director of Kirloskar Systems and Co-Chair of the CII Japan Council.

The core sessions of the morning will include an insightful talk by Mr. Takuro Takeuchi, Chief Representative of JICA India, on investment strategies and development cooperation. This will be followed by an engaging session on Design Thinking for Business Resilience led by Dr. Anbu Rathinavel, Co-founder of the School of Design Thinking. A fireside chat featuring Japanese business storyteller Ms. Suguri Mikami will explore the human dimension of business. The morning segment will conclude with a panel discussion focused on strengthening trade and technology linkages between India and Japan.

The afternoon program will spotlight corporate perspectives and sustainability in action. Mr. Niladri Mazumdar, President & COO of Seiko Watch India, will share insights on brand-building with sustainability at the core. Mr. Kaoru Shiraishi, Director General of JETRO Chennai, will provide an overview of Indo-Japan market access and investment opportunities. This will be followed by a panel discussion on the circular economy, featuring leading experts from IIT Madras and IISc Bengaluru, focusing on collaborative pathways for green growth.

Another fireside chat will address the critical theme of human resource collaboration, discussing Indo-Japan workforce mobility, education, and skilling initiatives. This session will include contributions from Nihon Edutech and IJBC’s North-East Chapter, which has been active in vocational and cross-cultural training.

A major milestone of the day will be the launch of the IJBC SME Desk, a strategic initiative aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation among small and medium enterprises from both countries.

The day will conclude with a closing address by Abhishek Choudhury, Vice President (Strategy), IJBC, outlining the roadmap for future engagement.

To foster informal engagement and high-level business matchmaking, the event will close with an invitation-only cocktail dinner from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, bringing together key dignitaries, investors, and thought leaders.

About IJBC

The Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC) is a premier platform driving strategic collaboration between India and Japan across sectors including business, education, technology, and cultural exchange. With a mission to unlock sustainable growth through meaningful partnerships, IJBC leads high-impact initiatives that shape a competitive Indo-Japanese future.