BW Businessworld explores India-Japan $50-billion trade ambition

BW Businessworld’s October 31, 2026 issue examines the expanding India–Japan economic partnership and the opportunity to translate decades of strategic trust into deeper business cooperation. Through its special coverage, the magazine explores how Japanese capital, technology and manufacturing expertise are combining with India’s scale, talent and entrepreneurial energy to create opportunities across industries.

The package considers the potential for bilateral trade to reach $50 billion by 2030, as projected by Assocham, and the investments and capabilities needed to support that growth. Its focus extends from established automotive partnerships to cooperation in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy and next-generation mobility.

Bilateral merchandise trade reached approximately $27.5 billion in FY2025-26. Japan’s cumulative FDI equity inflows into India stood at $48.14 billion between April 2000 and March 2026, making it India’s fifth-largest source. The two countries have also set a target of ¥10 trillion in Japanese private investment in India over the decade to 2035.

With around 1,500 Japanese companies and nearly 5,000 business establishments in India, the relationship already supports extensive networks of suppliers, engineers, skilled workers and distribution partners. BW Businessworld’s coverage examines how these businesses are strengthening local capabilities while positioning India as a base for manufacturing, innovation and exports.

The automotive coverage brings together perspectives from Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, Bridgestone, Isuzu and Nissan. It explores the relationship between localisation and global competitiveness, the development of supplier ecosystems, changing mobility requirements and the role of quality and customer trust in building enduring businesses.

Beyond automobiles, the issue examines Daikin’s investments in manufacturing and research, Panasonic’s approach to combining Japanese quality with local agility, and Hitachi Energy’s emphasis on engineering and talent. Together, these stories illustrate the breadth of the partnership and the growing responsibilities of Indian teams within international businesses.

Indian leadership is a central theme of the package. The coverage explores how executives, engineers and workforces are adapting global expertise to local conditions, shaping products and processes, and developing capabilities that serve markets beyond India.

The issue also addresses the work required to realise the partnership’s potential. More predictable regulation, faster execution, stronger supplier networks and sustained investment in skills will be essential. India’s substantial trade deficit with Japan underscores the need to diversify exports and improve access to the Japanese market.

“Ultimately, the partnership’s success will be measured in the quality of jobs created, the expertise developed and the businesses equipped to compete globally,” says Dr Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld.

Alongside the India-Japan special coverage, the October 31 edition features expert columns and in-depth reporting on the trends shaping business across sectors.