India a Stabilising Force in a Fragmented World: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at Raisina Tokyo

Tokyo, May 22, 2025

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during his visit to Japan delivered a compelling address at the Raisina Tokyo 2025 Dialogue, emphasizing the deepening of the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership and underscoring India’s role as a stabilizing force in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Hosted by the Observer Research Foundation, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Keizai Doyukai, this year’s Raisina Tokyo Dialogue spotlighted the economic dimensions of the bilateral relationship and the urgent need for resilient, trusted global partnerships.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri addressing at the Raisina Tokyo 2025

Terrorism and Global Solidarity

Opening his address, Foreign Secretary Misri expressed gratitude for Japan’s support following the Pahalgam terror attack, acknowledging solidarity expressed by Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. He reaffirmed India’s firm stance against terrorism, calling for a distinction between victims and perpetrators and urging global accountability.

Navigating a Fragmented World

Highlighting geopolitical volatility, he noted, “Every country is countering emergencies; every continent is assessing contingencies... Geo-economics and geo-technology are upending the old promises of globalization.”

He positioned India as a credible, stable, and democratic force capable of bridging the North-South and East-West divides—and emphasized India’s strategic commitment to economic security, supply chain resilience, and multilateral problem-solving.

Manufacturing & Investment as Pillars of Growth

Misri spoke extensively on India’s shift towards manufacturing-led growth, referencing initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, which has attracted over two dozen Japanese companies. He noted the $10 billion investment in the semiconductor ecosystem, and growing cooperation in electric mobility, clean energy, and urban infrastructure. He said, "“This is an opportunity to re-create the India-Japan success of Maruti-Suzuki in the new age.”

Policy Reforms and Ease of Doing Business

The Foreign Secretary detailed India's sweeping business and tax reforms, citing improvement in ease of doing business and a reduction in bureaucratic red tape. He emphasized India's robust digital infrastructure, simplified regulatory framework, and rising investor confidence, supported by forex reserves exceeding $690 billion.

Building Together: The India-Japan Opportunity

Calling for increased private sector engagement, Misri urged Japanese companies to diversify trade into emerging sectors such as digital services, green hydrogen, critical minerals, and semiconductors. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to joint workforce development, language training, and cross-border collaboration. He mentioned, “The Special Strategic and Global Partnership between India and Japan can emerge as one of the most significant relationships of the 21st century—not only for its economic promise but also for shared principles of strategic autonomy, sustainability, and democratic values.”

Charting a Resilient Future

Concluding his address, the Foreign Secretary stated, “Moments of disruption can also be moments of great beginning. Together, India and Japan can build a more resilient, inclusive, and prosperous world.”