Shillong, Feb 27: The Sixth India–Japan Intellectual Conclave, themed “Kizuna” (lasting bonds), brought diplomats, policymakers and development partners together in Shillong on Thursday, with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma positioning Meghalaya as a gateway for deeper India–Japan engagement in skills, agriculture, infrastructure and climate resilience.

The conclave’s inaugural session was attended by Ambassador Ono Keiichi, N J Gangte, Secretary and OSD (Establishment), Ministry of External Affairs & Acting DDG, ICWA, and Takuro Takeuchi, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency, among others.

In his address, Sangma described India–Japan ties as anchored in “mutual respect, democratic values and a shared vision for economic cooperation and sustainable development,” adding that the theme Kizuna aptly captures the strength of the bilateral relationship.

Highlighting Meghalaya’s demographic advantage — with 74% of its population under 35 — the Chief Minister proposed the creation of a Meghalaya–Japan Skill Corridor, linking the state’s youthful workforce with Japan’s technological and industrial ecosystem.

He said 47 nurses from Meghalaya are currently placed in Japan, and following his visit to the country in April 2025, the state signed an MoU with ASEAN One Co. to train and place 500 youth this year, scaling up to 5,000 over five years. The state has also tied up with NAVIS HR for overseas placements and established a Japanese language training centre in Shillong to prepare candidates for employment opportunities in Japan.

“The youthful energy of Meghalaya can be paired with Japan’s technological mastery,” Sangma said.

Beyond workforce mobility, the conclave spotlighted agricultural innovation.

Sangma announced that India’s first commercial production of shiitake mushroom blocks is underway in Upper Shillong with technology and marketing support from YATS Co. of Japan. The facility has the capacity to produce 1.5 lakh inoculated shiitake blocks annually and is expected to benefit over 1,000 farmers in the state.

The state is also exploring the creation of its own sake using local rice in partnership with Japan’s Sasaki Sake Brewery — a move aimed at combining agri-value addition with cultural exchange.

Referring to Meghalaya’s long-standing partnership with JICA, the Chief Minister described the agency as a major development partner in infrastructure, sustainable forestry and tourism.

Under the JICA-supported MegLIFE project, 22,500 hectares of forest are being restored across 500 villages in 11 districts, linking ecological conservation with rural livelihoods.

He added that the Umiam Hydro Power Station and the Umiam–Umtru Stage-III Hydroelectric Power Station are being renovated with JICA support. He also noted that the nearly 19-km river bridge linking Dhubri in Assam to Phulwari in Meghalaya — described as India’s longest river bridge — is primarily funded by JICA.

On the cultural front, Sangma pointed to the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival, which has featured an exclusive Japanese pavilion over the past two years, offering cuisine, performances and cultural showcases by Japanese artists.

Calling for expanded cooperation in circular economy, climate resilience, technology, agriculture and sustainable tourism, the Chief Minister invited Japanese businesses and academic institutions to collaborate with Meghalaya, positioning the state as a model for inclusive development in the Indo-Pacific.

Sangma thanked the Embassy of Japan, the Ministry of External Affairs and Asian Confluence for organising the conclave in Shillong, describing it as “a living bridge” strengthening engagement with Meghalaya and the wider Northeast.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister toured an exhibition of artefacts from the Imphal Peace Museum and North East Archives, underscoring the conclave’s emphasis on both strategic dialogue and shared heritage.

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