The BRICS grouping "has an important role to play in shaping the multipolar world," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Nikkei in an exclusive interview, adding that this is especially so "at a time when the world order is under pressure and institutions of global governance lack effectiveness or credibility to deliver."
The "reciprocal" tariffs unleashed by U.S. President Donald Trump in recent months have roiled global trade and prompted geopolitical shifts. Since Wednesday, India has been subject to a 50% duty by the U.S., as Washington tries to pressure New Delhi over its purchase of Russian oil.
Modi, who earlier Friday began a two-day visit to Japan, told Nikkei Editor-in-Chief Hiroshi Yamazaki that the agenda of the group -- which has grown beyond its original members of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to include 10 countries -- aligns with issues important to New Delhi, such as global governance reform, defense, multilateralism, development and artificial intelligence.
Edited excerpts from the interview follow.
Q: Tell us about the significance of your visit to Japan, and your thoughts on specific areas where Japanese technology and investment are needed.
A: It's always a pleasure to visit Japan. My visit to Japan this time is for the Annual Summit with Prime Minister [Shigeru] Ishiba. Although I have met Prime Minister Ishiba twice on the sidelines of multilateral events since last year, this visit feels special.
We are returning to the practice of holding summit meetings every year in each other's country. The Annual Summit mechanism gives us a chance to sit together as leaders of our nations, exchange notes on evolving national and global priorities, explore new areas of convergence and strengthen existing avenues of cooperation.
India and Japan are two vibrant democracies and two of the world's leading economies. You see, we are both among the top five economies of the world. Our relations are anchored in trust, friendship and mutual goodwill. So, we have a role to play to safeguard a rules-based order, stabilize the world economy and provide new growth impetus at home at a time of fast-changing technology. Our visions are convergent and our resources are complementary, which makes India and Japan natural partners. Since my last Annual Summit meeting with Japan in 2022, the world and the Indo-Pacific region have undergone many changes. Our own policy priorities have evolved.
For example, take economic security or supply chain resilience. The premise of globalization itself is under scrutiny. Every country is feeling the need for diversification in trade and technology. There are many countries that are looking at India as a reliable partner in this effort. Naturally, this time, I hope to jointly assess these major changes with Prime Minister Ishiba and try to set new goals and mechanisms to steer our partnership for the coming years in a direction of stability and growth.
Right from the time when I was chief minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, I have had a great friendship with Japanese people and Japan. I have been a big believer in the India-Japan partnership. The bond continues to grow stronger.
In fact, just a couple of days before coming here, you may have noted that I was part of a program where the Suzuki group's very first battery electric vehicle was flagged off. The fact that these will be manufactured in India and exported across the world has created immense excitement in India.
At the same place, we also inaugurated a joint effort of Toshiba, Denso and Suzuki that will revolutionize the battery ecosystem and green mobility.
These are a couple of examples from just one domain. So, you can imagine the excellent work happening in many other collaborations under the Make in India program.
But it is the need of the hour and need of the world that we take this partnership to the next level.
India-Japan ties is a large canvas. There is a lot that we can achieve together, be it in the realm of trade and investment, science and technology, defense and security, or people-to-people exchanges.
Japan's technological prowess and investment opportunities offered by India make us perfect partners. Our next generation infrastructure program -- PM Gati Shakti -- and other initiatives such as Startup India, Digital India, Semiconductor Mission, AI Mission and high-technology development plan offer limitless possibilities.
Q: Human resource exchange is a key pillar of Japan-India relations. What kind of talent does India hope to attract from Japan, and is there a target number of people to be sent from India to Japan?
A: Immense goodwill between the people of India and Japan naturally lends to cooperation in human resource. India has among the world's largest populations of skilled, talented and tech-savvy youth. And wherever you go, the Indian diaspora is known for its professionalism, discipline and hard work.
I see a natural complementarity between our two countries. High-skilled and semi-skilled professionals, students and scientists from India can learn immensely from Japan and at the same time, they can contribute to Japan's growth. Similarly, Japanese expertise, investment and managerial acumen is most welcome in India's manufacturing, clean energy, infrastructure and high-technology related sectors.
Through this medium, I also invite the Japanese people to explore and experience "Incredible India." We would love to welcome many more Japanese tourists and students in India.
I look forward to discussing many of these aspects of our bilateral ties with the prime minister and setting new ambitions for people-to-people exchanges between our nations.
Q: India has decided to introduce Japan's latest shinkansen model, the E10, around 2032. Is it correct that the E10 will be jointly produced in Japan and India? What effects do you expect from joint production on India's Make in India initiative? Do you also aim to eventually export shinkansen trains from India to other Global South countries?
A: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project is a flagship project between India and Japan. We appreciate Japan's association with this project over the years. We also welcome Japan's willingness to introduce its most advanced and futuristic high-speed rail technology for this. Apart from the MAHSR project, we have now targeted a larger network of high-speed rail in India. Participation of Japanese firms in this endeavor is welcome.
Japan has systems. India brings speed, skill and scale. Our combination is creating wonders.
Whether it is automobiles, auto components or electronics, there are many examples of Japanese companies that are manufacturing in India and exporting products to the world successfully.
If we can find the right model of partnership and replicate the success story in this sector as well, we will be able to co-innovate and co-develop more products and services for the world.
Q: The Quad has taken Japan-India relations to the next level. It is said that a summit meeting of the leaders of the four countries will be held in India at the end of the year. What role do you expect the Quad to play, and what role do you expect Japan to play in particular?
A: It may be remembered that the Quad first came together as a spontaneous coordination among four democracies in response to the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. It started out as a platform to deliver public goods but over time, it showed what we could achieve together. So, it has steadily evolved into a broader and more ambitious framework of cooperation.
Today, the Quad has acquired real momentum. Its agenda covers a wide spectrum. Maritime and health security, cyber resilience, undersea cable connectivity, STEM education, disaster-resilient infrastructure and even logistics coordination.
The Quad has also placed strong emphasis on collaboration with three key subregions of the Indo-Pacific -- Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and the Indian Ocean rim. It clearly recognizes the central role of ASEAN, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
Beyond the initiatives and projects, what's even more important is what the Quad stands for. As vibrant democracies, open economies and pluralistic societies, we are committed to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific. Together, the Quad is committed to a rules-based international order, free from coercion, anchored in international law, respectful of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and oriented towards the peaceful resolution of disputes.
Q: Within BRICS, India and Brazil appear to have built very good relations. However, both India and Brazil have suffered losses due to U.S. tariff issues. How do you envision BRICS evolving as an organization in the future?
A: BRICS is an important plurilateral grouping with an important agenda that includes a host of issues important to India such as the reform of global governance, enhancing voice of the Global South, peace and security, strengthening multilateralism, development issues and artificial intelligence.
BRICS has an important role to play in shaping the multipolar world, especially at a time when the world order is under pressure and institutions of global governance lack effectiveness or credibility to deliver.
Q: As you mentioned in your Independence Day speech on Aug. 15, India suffered under colonial rule in a position akin to slavery. However, it appears that advanced nations still view the growth of the Global South as a threat and are attempting to suppress it. What is your perspective on this matter?
A: When global organizations work with a 20th century mindset, how can they deal with the challenges of the 21st century? That is why India has consistently called for the reform of global institutions, including the United Nations Security Council and Bretton Woods institutions to make them relevant, effective and credible.
We stand for a multipolar and inclusive world order, where the voice of the Global South gets its rightful place in the global conversation. After all, the Global South accounts for a large and growing part of humanity and their progress benefits the entire world. No plan for the future of the planet can succeed without fair representation and participation of the Global South in decision-making frameworks.
India has been at the forefront of this debate. Whether through our G20 presidency, the Voice of the Global South Summits or other multilateral engagements, we are always pushing for a model of human-centric globalization.
Q: In the past, Japanese manufacturers led the world in semiconductors and liquid crystal panels. However, these are now legacy industries. There are an increasing number of companies that want to transfer this technology to India and form joint ventures with Indian companies. This would be mutually beneficial in reducing dependence on China, and Japan could also give its technology a second life. What is the prime minister's opinion on this?
A: Science and high-tech are a big priority for our government. Semiconductors are a great example of this. The industry in India is growing leaps and bounds. Six units are already coming up, and four more are on the way. And by the end of this very year, you'll see "Made in India" chips in the market.
We're backing the semiconductor sector with strong policy support and incentives, both at the center (central government) and the states. We are blessed with a strong demographic dividend. To harness that, we're also training tens of thousands of skilled professionals. The idea is not only to meet India's needs but also to support the global tech sector as well.
Japan, as you know, has been a technology leader in semiconductors and electronics, and it still has unique strengths in areas like machinery and specialty chemicals.
You mentioned the display sector. That is also an area of interest. Because there is a rising demand for audio-visual products and applications in India. At the same time, there is a growing taste for technology as well. It makes strong sense for India and Japan to collaborate in all these areas.
We have already made a strong start in the semiconductor sector with a G2G MOU (government-to-government memorandum of understanding) in 2023 and several business collaborations.
On the one side is our attractive market, skilled manpower, economy of scale and policy support. On the other side is Japanese technological expertise and managerial acumen. With these two coming together, there are no limits to what can be achieved together.
Q: In terms of defense cooperation, India has begun technology transfer and joint production with the United States. What specific technologies is India requesting from Japan, and what form of joint production is being considered?
A: Cooperation in defense and security is a key pillar of our Special Strategic and Global Partnership with Japan. The momentum for this emanates from the level of political trust both countries enjoy, along with a shared vision for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and coercion-free Indo-Pacific.
A key focus is our defense equipment and technology partnership with Japan. Discussions on the UNICORN (Unified Complex Radio Antenna) project, which will further elevate operational capabilities of the Indian Navy, are progressing well. The Indian Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force are also exploring possible cooperation in the area of ship maintenance in India.
The Indian defense industry sector has seen strong growth in the past 10 years, and has many indigenous capabilities. This provides opportunities for meaningful collaboration in co-development and co-production of equipment and technologies.
Q: A meeting between Prime Minister Modi and governors from across Japan is scheduled. This is the first such initiative by an Indian prime minister. Why was this meeting planned?
In the recent years, it has been very heartening to see a particularly positive trend in our relationship. Indian states and Japanese prefectures are deepening their partnerships immensely.
I am told that in this year alone, over half a dozen chief ministers from India have visited Japan with their official and business delegations to promote investment, tourism and other ties. Similarly, there is a great sentiment among Japanese prefectures to discover India, work together, do business together and benefit from our relative strengths and advantages.
I had already mentioned to you how keenly I worked with Japan even when I was a chief minister of an Indian state. I have always strongly believed that our states and prefectures can play a role in spreading the benefits of our ties to the grassroots level.
I am told that PM Ishiba also values the role of regions in Japan's rejuvenation. That is why, in my meetings with governors of Japanese prefectures during this visit, I'm looking forward to hearing their ideas on how India and Indians can work more closely with them and how we can contribute to their vision for their prefectures.
In fact, one of my priorities in this visit is to encourage even greater engagement between our people, with our states and prefectures as key stakeholders in this journey.
Source: Nikkei Asia
