Uttar Pradesh and Japan are exploring a broader partnership in healthcare, medical education, robotics, pharmaceuticals and skill development, with both sides identifying opportunities to combine Japan’s technological expertise with the state’s large and growing workforce.
The discussions took place during the UP-Japan Healthcare and Care Economy Partnership sectoral session, where government officials and representatives from Japan examined avenues for investment, technology transfer, healthcare education and employment.
UP Highlights Expanding Healthcare Ecosystem
Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said Uttar Pradesh’s improving infrastructure and investment environment have created new opportunities for international partnerships. He highlighted the expansion of expressways, air connectivity, power supply and improvements in law and order as factors supporting the state’s economic growth.
Pathak also pointed to the expansion of medical education in the state, noting that the number of medical colleges has increased from 47 to more than 83. Alongside medical colleges, nursing and paramedical education has also expanded significantly.
He said Uttar Pradesh could help address Japan’s growing requirement for healthcare professionals by developing trained doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medical technicians. Training youth in the Japanese language and work culture, he added, could further improve their suitability for employment with Japanese organisations.
Medical Tech Park and Robotics on the Agenda
Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Amit Ghosh, said Japanese companies are showing increasing interest in Uttar Pradesh, while the state is also looking at ways to bring Japanese technology into its healthcare ecosystem.
Among the proposals under consideration is a nearly 400-acre Medical Tech Park, which could provide opportunities for Japanese companies in medical technology and related sectors. Discussions are also underway on cooperation in robotics and the possibility of Japanese participation in setting up medical colleges through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Ghosh said the combination of Japan’s technology and work culture with Uttar Pradesh’s expanding healthcare infrastructure could create a sustainable model for healthcare development and investment.
Focus on Skills, Caregiving and Employment
Minister for Vocational Education and Skill Development Kapil Dev Agarwal stressed the importance of linking Japanese technology with Uttar Pradesh’s young workforce. He said the state is strengthening its skill ecosystem through technical education, foreign-language training and an investment-friendly single-window system.
Principal Secretary, Skill Development, Dr Hari Om, said the state’s extensive network of ITIs and polytechnic institutions could be used to establish specialised training centres based on Japanese industry requirements. Such centres could offer training in Japanese language, technical skills, caregiving, workplace culture and professional practices.
Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment, Dr M.K. Shanmuga Sundaram, noted that Japan’s ageing population and labour shortages are expected to increase demand for trained workers in caregiving, construction, manufacturing and logistics.
He said organised and safe migration could help connect Uttar Pradesh’s workforce with international employment opportunities.
Healthcare Workforce Could Become Key Link
The healthcare and caregiving sector emerged as one of the strongest areas for potential cooperation. Mansi Kasliwal, Director of STEP Foundation, emphasised the need for specialised training that combines care skills, Japanese-language proficiency, nursing-care terminology and workplace readiness.
C2C India CEO Rana Dheeraj also highlighted the potential for Uttar Pradesh to become an important source of skilled manpower for Japan, particularly by adopting elements of Japanese work culture and professional discipline.
Mission Director of the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission Pulkit Khare said the state’s large youth population provides a strong foundation for aligning skill programmes with the changing needs of international industries.
Pharma Investment and Technology Transfer Gain Momentum
The state also highlighted recent momentum in pharmaceutical investment. Amit Ghosh said startup entrepreneurs have been actively participating in investment initiatives and that MoUs with 12 pharmaceutical companies were signed in a single day.
The discussions with Japan are expected to further expand opportunities for technology-driven healthcare manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and robotics in Uttar Pradesh.
Strengthening India-Japan Economic Ties
Labour and Employment Minister Anil Rajbhar said employment generation remains central to Uttar Pradesh’s development strategy. He added that the state’s improving road, water and air connectivity is strengthening its attractiveness for investors.
Japanese delegates were also given an opportunity to experience the state’s infrastructure during their road journey through Uttar Pradesh, which officials said helped reinforce confidence in the state’s investment potential.
The programme concluded with the felicitation of Japanese delegates, including Juichi Kobayashi, Director General of the Industrial Policy Department of Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture, along with representatives from Japan’s Advanced Policy Promotion Department, Japanese industry and Lohia Corporation.
The discussions marked another step towards building a stronger UP-Japan partnership spanning healthcare, technology, skills, investment and global employment, with the potential to create opportunities for both Japan’s ageing-care economy and Uttar Pradesh’s young workforce.