Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki has announced plans to advance cooperation with Uttar Pradesh in green hydrogen development, marking a significant expansion of the existing partnership beyond the previously announced ₹600-crore MSME fund. Speaking to media after offering prayers at Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple along with a Japanese delegation, Nagasaki stated that the cooperation aims to promote development of Uttar Pradesh and Yamanashi Prefecture through a green hydrogen system while contributing to world peace through energy security. The governor emphasized that this initiative represents one of several important sectors where cooperation with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is being advanced, with the visit to Kashi giving him a sense of the devotion of people towards God and their prayers for world peace.
The Uttar Pradesh government and Japan's Yamanashi Prefecture have signed four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen cooperation in investment, skills, tourism, and technology. According to reports from Business Standard, the agreements were announced at the Japan–India Business Networking Event in Lucknow on August 21. The partnership focuses on connecting Japanese investment with Uttar Pradesh's workforce and growing industrial ecosystem, with the latest developments showing the partnership expanding into green hydrogen technology as a key focus area. The delegation, comprising more than 200 members, has come to India under the UP-Japan Investment Meet-2026, with several MoUs related to investment and bilateral cooperation also signed between the Uttar Pradesh government and the Japanese delegation in Lucknow.
The MoUs cover multiple sectors including technical training through collaboration between Invest UP and the Technical Training & Research Centre in Kanpur for technical training, workforce development and placement opportunities. As reported by Business Standard, the agreements also include tourism promotion focusing on Buddhist and cultural tourism to attract Japanese visitors to Uttar Pradesh destinations. Additionally, the partnership will encourage Japanese Global Capability Centres in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Noida and Greater Noida, and develop a steady pool of Japanese-language-proficient workers for employment requirements in Japan. The fourth MoU involves the Labour Department and Yamanashi representatives, focusing on developing Japanese-language skills and training workers for employment opportunities in Japan.
Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki announced a ₹600-crore fund to support Yamanashi-based micro, small and medium enterprises that invest in Uttar Pradesh. According to Business Standard, this fund is intended to make it easier for smaller Japanese businesses to explore opportunities in the state while strengthening technology, investment and employment linkages. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasized that the partnership should move beyond investment discussions towards structured and long-term cooperation. The Japanese delegation appreciated the arrangements made by the government for the convenience and safety of devotees, particularly crowd management, and observed the harmony between Kashi's spiritual heritage and modern development.
The state has announced a dedicated Yamanashi Desk at Invest UP which will serve as a focused channel for Japanese investors and businesses. As reported by Business Standard, the state plans regular coordination with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A 90-day review mechanism is expected to help track project progress, land allotment, and investment-related issues, ensuring effective monitoring of the partnership's implementation. Chief Minister Adityanath has now directed that a separate Yamanashi Japan Desk should be created under Invest UP and that its progress report be obtained every third month instead of the previously announced 90-day review. The chief minister also directed that good facilities should be provided to Japanese tourists visiting Buddhist sites in Uttar Pradesh, with a route developed to enable visitors to see as many Buddhist sites as possible, including Sarnath, Kushinagar, Shravasti and Kapilvastu.
