Patna: The Bihar Industries Association has said constant exchange with the Japanese would benefit the state and not a one-time visit.
A delegation from the industry body had gone to Japan with chief minister Nitish Kumar. Back home, the association stressed on the need for consistent visits and establishing Japanese language schools to help people from Bihar to build a long-term relationship with the country.
KPS Keshri, president of the Bihar Industries Association, said: "We are hopeful to get investments from Japanese investors. Bihar is primarily an agrarian state and agricultural trade in food products has a huge potential, as Japan imports over 60 per cent of its food. We are expecting a delegation of Japanese businessmen in Bihar and are preparing a list of those industries that should be invited.
"The investors are interested in sectors such as food processing, technology, sustainable energy, tourism, transport and electronics manufacturing. They have surplus money to invest in the state but we need to convince them about 'ample rate of return'," added Keshri.
Nitish on his official four-day visit to Japan this past week urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to establish an industrial centre Bihar and also visit the state on his arrival in India. He also met the foreign minister and discussed issues of importance, while the industries delegation met the Bihari diaspora to a warm welcome. "We are expecting Bihar Foundation to be established in Japan too," Keshri said.
Keshri added: "Only promoting 'religious tourism' is not enough. We need to attract investments in other sectors also in which Bihar has a huge potential - as human resources and agricultural products. We are moving ahead and want to persuade Japanese industrialists to establish factories and assembly line in Bihar. Talks for peace corridor are also on between the governments to link all Buddhist sites through a high-speed rail network."
Some sources in the association, however, expressed annoyance at the state government not funding their Japan trip.
