Chennai to Host 4th India-Japan Business Conference on July 10

Chennai, India — Chennai is set to become a key hub of Indo-Pacific business diplomacy as it prepares to host the 4th edition of the India-Japan Business Conference (IJBC) on July 10, 2025. Organized by the Indo-Japan Business Council (IJBC), this premier event will be held at the Madras Management Association and is expected to bring together top government officials, industry leaders, SME champions, and innovation experts from both India and Japan.

With the theme “Accelerating Indo-Japan Partnerships in Technology, Trade, and Sustainability,” this year’s conference aims to serve as a catalyst for co-creation and strategic collaborations.

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

The conference is strategically aligned with India’s Act East Policy and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) Vision. It seeks to deepen bilateral cooperation by focusing on critical areas such as digital transformation, sustainable supply chains, SME empowerment, and bilateral trade facilitation.

The day-long event will begin with a welcome address by Siddharth Deshmukh, followed by remarks from special guests, including Takahashi Muneo, Consul-General of Japan in Chennai, and Geetanjali Kirloskar, Chairperson and Managing Director of Kirloskar Systems and Co-Chair of CII Japan Council.

Key sessions in the morning will feature insights from Takuro Takeuchi, Chief Representative of JICA India, on investment focus and opportunities. Dr. Anbu Rathinavel, Co-founder of the School of Design Thinking, will present on design thinking for business resilience, while a special fireside chat will feature Japanese business storyteller Suguri Mikami.

A panel discussion on strengthening trade and technology linkages will bring together senior industry voices from both countries.

In the afternoon, Niladri Mazumdar, President & COO of Seiko Watch India, will share perspectives on sustainability and brand building. Kaoru Shiraishi, Director General of JETRO Chennai, will address market access and partnership potential. An engaging panel on the circular economy will include experts from IIT Madras and IISc Bengaluru, highlighting opportunities for greener business practices.

Another highlight will be a fireside chat on human resource collaboration, focusing on Indo-Japan workforce pathways in partnership with Nihon Edutech and IJBC North-East.

A significant milestone for the conference will be the launch of the IJBC SME Desk, aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises in accessing technology, markets, and collaborative opportunities across borders. The conference will conclude with a closing address by Abhishek Choudhury, Vice President (Strategy), IJBC, followed by a high-level cocktail dinner for invited guests to facilitate networking and business matchmaking.

The conference is expected to generate actionable policy recommendations, expand SME access to advanced technologies and new markets, promote green infrastructure, and strengthen cross-border business ecosystems.

Participants will include Indian and Japanese SMEs, startups, multinational corporations with Indo-Pacific strategies, policymakers, academic researchers, and trade and investment promotion agencies.

Founded to foster strategic cooperation between India and Japan, the Indo-Japan Business Council continues to play a pivotal role in promoting shared visions of sustainable growth, technological advancement, and cultural exchange. With this conference, Chennai is poised to emerge as a dynamic node in the Indo-Japanese business and innovation corridor.

Event details:
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Venue: Madras Management Association, Chennai
Registration: www.bizcon.ijbc.org
Contact: abhishek.choudhury@ijbc.org | +91 98909 47107