Bengaluru/Tokyo, Sept 9: The Karnataka government on Monday said it is intensifying efforts to position the state as a global hub for semiconductors, electronics, and advanced manufacturing during Minister M B Patil’s official visit to Japan.

Patil, accompanied by Selvakumar S (Principal Secretary, Commerce & Industries) and Gunjan Krishna (Commissioner for Industrial Development), held strategic meetings with leading Japanese corporations including Tokyo Electron, Mitsubishi Electric, Honda, Yokogawa Electric, and Restar.

Tokyo Electron

The company confirmed it has already established a development base in Bengaluru, focusing on new materials discovery and production efficiency—a milestone in India’s semiconductor ecosystem. Both sides agreed to deepen collaboration going forward.

Honda

Honda informed the delegation that it will set up its first electric two-wheeler production base in India at Bengaluru, with an investment of ₹600 crore, aligned with the Global Investors Meet MoU.

  • Its Narsapura plant in Karnataka, producing 2.4 million vehicles annually, is Honda’s largest in India.
  • The state urged Honda to expand beyond two-wheelers, assuring policy and infrastructure support.

Mitsubishi Electric

The team reviewed Mitsubishi’s India operations spanning CNC systems, elevators, UPS systems, and chillers manufacturing. Karnataka highlighted opportunities for further expansion in the capital equipment ecosystem. Mitsubishi expressed interest in scaling up.

Yokogawa Electric

Employing over 2,000 people in Bengaluru, Yokogawa said it is nearing capacity in its existing facilities and will explore expansion opportunities in Karnataka.

Restar

The electronics and semiconductor solutions provider said it is entering a joint venture with an Indian partner to launch distribution operations. The delegation urged it to set up electronics manufacturing services (EMS) operations in Bengaluru, assuring full government support.

Bigger picture

The visit is part of Karnataka’s larger strategy to attract high-value Japanese investments, reinforcing its position as India’s leading destination for semiconductors, electronics, EV manufacturing, and advanced industrie