India–Japan Partnership Advances with Focus on Semiconductor, Smart City Investment in Dholera

Dholera SIR emerging as a global hub for advanced manufacturing and smart city development

The Ambassador of Japan to India, Mr. Keiichi Ono, led a high-level delegation of leading Japanese companies on an official visit to Dholera Special Investment Region (Dholera SIR), India’s greenfield smart industrial city under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). The visit marked a significant milestone in advancing industrial cooperation between India and Japan, built on shared values of innovation, sustainability and inclusive development.

The two-day engagement commenced on 9th July 2025 with a conference session in Ahmedabad, followed by a site visit to Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) on 10th July 2025. The Japanese delegation undertook an on-ground tour of the city’s planned infrastructure and facilities, accompanied by officials from Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd. (DICDL) and the National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC). The site visits included the Water Treatment Plant, Canal Front Development, Power Substation, the under-construction Tata Electronics semiconductor fabrication plant, and the ABCD Building, which houses the Integrated Command & Control Centre (ICCC) and the Experience Centre.

The delegation was briefed on the Tata Electronics semiconductor fabrication facility, being developed in partnership with Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (PSMC) of Taiwan. This project, a key component of the Semicon India Programme, forms part of over ₹1.54 lakh crore in semiconductor-related investments underway in Gujarat.

The delegation also reviewed Dholera’s planned social infrastructure—including a multi-specialty hospital, fire station, integrated school, premium guest house, residential and commercial complexes, and hospitality hubs—designed to make Dholera a fully livable and investor-ready smart city.

Dholera represents India’s Vision 2047 of becoming a developed, self-reliant, and innovation-driven economy. With multimodal connectivity through the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway and the upcoming Greenfield International Airport, plug-and-play industrial zones, real-time governance via ICCC, and robust utility infrastructure, Dholera is envisioned as more than just an industrial base.

The session held on the 9^th July featured opening remarks by Resident Executive Officer & Regional Head for Asia Pacific, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Ms. Kazuko Sakuma and Chief Representative, JETRO Ahmedabad Mr. Yu Yoshida. Mrs. Mona K. Khandhar, Principal Secretary, Department of Science & Technology, Government of Gujarat, also addressed the gathering.

Delivering the keynote address, CEO & MD, National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC), Shri Rajat Kumar Saini, underscored the deepening strategic partnership between India and Japan. He noted that the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), inspired by Japan’s Tokyo–Osaka corridor, continues to benefit from Japanese collaboration and investment.

The session showcased presentations on India’s evolving industrial ecosystem and the emergence of Dholera as a hub for advanced manufacturing.

A special address by Ambassador Mr. Keiichi Ono concluded the session, where he appreciated India’s vision for semiconductors and smart cities, and reaffirmed Japan’s continued support in India’s economic transformation. The day concluded with a networking dinner that fostered greater engagement between Indian and Japanese stakeholders.

The visit by the Japanese delegation highlights Dholera’s rising global prominence and its potential to serve as India’s gateway to advanced manufacturing. As India advances toward its goal of becoming a global economic and technological leader by 2047, Dholera SIR stands as a model of integrated planning, international cooperation, and futuristic infrastructure.