Warm greetings from Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India (JCCII). My name is Takeshi Seo of ITOCHU India, and I have been appointed President of JCCII. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of the Chamber’s activities.
I only arrived in India on April 8, and I feel deeply humbled to take on such an important responsibility so soon after my arrival. Nevertheless, having been entrusted with this role, I am fully committed to devoting my utmost efforts to the further development of JCCII and to serving our member companies. I sincerely ask for your support and cooperation over the coming year.
Allow me to briefly introduce myself. This is my fourth overseas assignment. Although this is my first posting in India, I have previously lived and worked in Greece, Brazil, and Singapore, giving me the opportunity to experience business and society across several continents. Since joining ITOCHU, I have spent nearly 30 years in the shipbuilding and shipping business. While I have not been continuously involved in India, I have been visiting the country on business trips for the past 15 to 16 years. At each of my overseas postings, I had the privilege of serving as an officer or board member of local Japan associations and Japan chambers of commerce, and I hope to draw on those experiences in fulfilling my responsibilities here.
India first began to attract major global attention as one of the BRICs in 2001. Although China subsequently achieved remarkable economic growth, it took time, before India emerged as a similarly central driver of global growth. Since the 2010s, however, India has gradually regained momentum, and in recent years it has steadily advanced on the path toward becoming one of the world’s leading economic powers. According to one publication, the number of affluent households in India with annual incomes of more than JPY 30 million has already exceeded one million, surpassing Japan. In addition, in a 2024 survey of 18-year-olds on their country and politics, approximately 78% of young people in India said they believed their country’s future would improve, far exceeding the roughly 15% recorded in Japan. In many respects, this atmosphere is reminiscent of Japan during its period of high economic growth.
Japan-India relations continue to deepen, and economic and cultural exchanges between our two countries are expanding steadily. In particular, 2027 will mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and India, a major milestone that is expected to further stimulate high-level governmental exchanges, tourism, and broader people-to-people ties. Investment by Japanese companies in India also remains active, especially in the manufacturing and IT sectors, where cooperation continues to advance.
At the same time, there are important challenges that require our attention. Instability in the international environment, including the conflict involving Iran, is having a tangible impact on the Indian economy. Especially, rising energy prices and disruptions in logistics are directly affecting business operations and daily life. While responding flexibly to these changes in the external environment, it is also essential that we continue addressing domestic issues in India, including legal and tax frameworks as well as infrastructure-related challenges. JCCII intends to maintain close dialogue with the authorities and ensure that the voices of our member companies are clearly communicated.
As you know, the JCCII’s activities are centered on several key pillars: networking, committee activities, improvement of the business environment, stronger communication through initiatives across India, and organizational expansion, including support for new market entrants. In particular, We will place greater emphasis on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to enter India, as well as on events and information-sharing initiatives designed to enhance member satisfaction. Above all, preparations for the 75th anniversary initiatives in 2027 will be the most important theme for us in 2026.
As Representative of JCCII, I hope to work together with all of you to further strengthen Japan-India relations, support the growth of Japanese companies already operating in India as well as those considering future entry, and contribute to India’s continued prosperity and development. To this end, we will further deepen our collaboration with the Embassy of Japan, JETRO, and the Government of India, as we advance the JCCII’s activities.
I sincerely ask for your continued guidance, encouragement, and support throughout the year.
April 2026
Takeshi Seo
President
Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in India
