Press Release on Second Joint Committee Meeting of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR)

Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog visited Japan from 16-17 May 2016 to participate in the Second Joint Committee Meeting of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR). The Indian delegation, led by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, consisted of Mr. A.K. Mittal, Chairman, Railway Board, Mr. Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and experts from the ministries of railways, external affairs, etc.  The Japanese side was led by Mr. Hiroto Izumi, Special Adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

During the Joint Committee Meeting, both sides discussed various aspects of the Shinkansen project and agreed to further expedite the implementation of the landmark project.

During his visit, Dr. Panagariya, accompanied by Ambassador of India to Japan Sujan R. Chinoy, also met Mr. Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Mr. Keiichi Ishii, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on 16 May 2016.  During these bilateral meetings, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog discussed with them progress with regard to the Shinkansen project and exchanged views to further strengthen our bilateral trade and economic relations with Japan.

Dr. Panagariya delivered an address on the theme “India: the next Asian economic giant” at the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ) on 17 May 2016 to a gathering of experts from the economy, energy, and infrastructure sectors, etc. This was followed by an interactive Q&A session.  Dr. Panagariya also interacted with select invitees from Japanese corporate and financial sectors on the prospects and opportunities in the Indian Economy, at a luncheon event hosted by Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy at the Embassy of India, Tokyo on 17 May.

The Third Joint Committee Meeting of the MAHSR will take place in India in the second half of 2016 on mutually convenient dates.

Tokyo
17 May 2016

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