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A day before concluding his Japan visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it had been “very successful”. He expressed contentment over obtaining $35-billion of investment promises for India’s infrastructure sector over five years.
At a reception organised by the Indian community in Japan, addressing the audience in Hindi wearing a bandhgala, he said: “Yeh Fevicol se bhi zyada mazboot jod hai (This bond is stronger than that of Fevicol (glue).”
“There has been talk about billions and millions. But there has never been talk of trillions,” he said, referring to the 3.5 trillion yen ($35 billion or Rs 210,000 crore) promised by Japan to India through public and private funding over the five years for various works, including building of smart cities and a cleaning of the Ganga.
“This is a big achievement. My biggest happiness is that Japan trusted us,” he said at his final official programme, after a day of events and meetings.
In the same context of trust, he referred to Japan’s decision on Monday to lift a ban on six Indian entities, including Hindustan Aeronautics, imposed in the wake of the 1998 nuclear tests conducted by a previous government headed by his party.
Earlier in the day, Modi tried his hands at drums while inaugurating the TCS Cultural Centre in Tokyo. He joined the ceremonial Japanese drummers in a jugalbandi.
Modi invited the Japanese people to visit and explore India and spread the word about their experience. “Don't confine yourself to hotels. Go out and spend and become our ambassadors,” he told the gathering.
Pitching for upgradation of knowledge skills, he said: “In the 21st century, those having knowledge will be more powerful than those having weapons.”
Before embarking on the trip, the PM had said it “underlines the high priority that Japan receives in our foreign and economic policies”. During the visit, Modi visited Kyoto and Tokyo, and held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
