India opens second Japanese consulate in Fukuoka Prefecture and seeks closer ties with Kyushu region

FUKUOKA – India will open a consulate in Fukuoka Prefecture in the Kyushu region, its second in Japan, seeking increased cooperation between India and the prefecture.

Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George reported the plan to Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori at a meeting at the Fukuoka Prefectural Government headquarters on September 27. “We are ready to cooperate in any way possible,” Governor Hattori told the ambassador.

Currently, India has one consulate in the country, Indian Consulate General Osaka-Kobe in Osaka city.

Ambassador George noted the close ties between India and Japan and described Fukuoka as an important city for India in many aspects, including industry and labor exchange. He said his country wanted to open the new consulate general by the end of December.

The Ambassador suggested holding business seminars on India in Fukuoka and organizing a “Fukuoka Prefectural Day” at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo to provide an opportunity for exchanges.

Pointing to new industrial activities in Kyushu, such as the opening of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s semiconductor foundry in Kumamoto Prefecture in February, Governor Hattori said, “We want to deepen our exchanges in various fields and see talent from India play in Fukuoka an active role.”

(Japanese original by Kentaro Nagaoka, Kyushu News Department)