Industries Minister MB Patil and his team of officials along with Japanese corporate honchos in Tokyo.
Bengaluru: Industries Minister M.B. Patil recently held talks with Japan’s JFE Shoji Company on the possibilities of reviving the prestigious New Government Electrical Factory (NGEF) in Hubballi under state partnership.
The Minister, leading a high-level Karnataka delegation visiting Japan to attract investment, put forward the revival proposal in a meeting with the company’s top officials on Wednesday.
“JFE is at the forefront in the manufacture of power converters,” the Minister said. He added that senior officials of the company had been invited to visit the Hubballi unit for preliminary discussions regarding the NGEF revival.
The meeting was attended by Hiroshi Lijima, General Manager, Machinery Division, JFE Shoji Company, Hidekasu Yoshioko, Manager, Electrical Appliances Steel Planning Division, and other officials.
The company assured the state delegation that a separate ₹400-crore project to manufacture motor cores used in battery-powered and electric vehicles (BEVs/EVs) will be implemented soon.
On the third day of the visit, the delegation held talks with senior officials of Sumitomo, Yaskawa, and JFE Shoji companies.
Sumitomo confirmed an investment of ₹2,345 crore in a steel manufacturing unit in Koppal through Mukanda Sumi, a joint venture with the Bajaj Group.
The unit will be operational by 2028 and will have an annual capacity of 3,50,000 tonnes of iron and steel.
The Minister explained that Sumitomo has also expressed interest in setting up a biomass unit in Karnataka in the near future.
Yaskawa confirmed its investment to the state delegation for establishing a motion control and variable frequency drives unit in Bengaluru. The Minister said this will strengthen Karnataka’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing technology.
Other meetings
The Minister and his team of officials also held strategic meetings with Tokyo Electron, Mitsubishi Electric, Honda, Yokogawa Electric, and Restar to strengthen partnerships and explore new investments in Karnataka.
Tokyo Electron
The company said that it has already established a development base in Bengaluru, focusing on the discovery of new materials and enhancing production efficiency —marking a significant milestone in India’s semiconductor journey.
The delegation showcased Karnataka’s deep semiconductor ecosystem and highly skilled talent pool, positioning the state as a natural choice for Tokyo Electron’s future growth. Both sides agreed to maintain close engagement to explore further collaboration.
Honda
Patil and the delegation held discussions with Honda’s leadership, led by Noriya Kaihara, Director, Executive Vice-President, and Representative Executive Officer.
Honda shared that its Narsapura two-wheeler plant in Karnataka, producing more than 2.4 million vehicles annually, is the company’s largest in India.
Importantly, Honda said its first electric two-wheeler production base in India will be set up in Bengaluru. An investment of Rs 600 crore, aligned with the Global Investors Meet MoU signed with the Government of Karnataka, will be grounded shortly.
The delegation urged Honda to explore expanded investments beyond the two-wheeler segment, assuring full state support.
Mitsubishi Electric
The Karnataka delegation also reviewed Mitsubishi Electric’s operations in India and highlighted opportunities for expansion in the state. Mitsubishi shared details of its presence in Karnataka across computerized numerical controllers, elevators, UPS, and chillers manufacturing.
Discussions focused on strengthening the capital equipment ecosystem, with the Government of Karnataka assuring full support for Mitsubishi’s ongoing and future operations while encouraging the company to expand its investments in the state.
Yokogawa Electric
With a strong presence in Bengaluru, employing over 2,000 people, Yokogawa Electric reaffirmed its positive experience of operating in Karnataka. The company shared that it will soon reach capacity in its existing facilities and will explore expansion opportunities in the state.
The delegation outlined the benefits under Karnataka’s New Industrial Policy 2025-2030, assuring best-in-class incentives and full support to reinforce the state’s role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and technology-driven industries.
Restar
Restar Holdings, a key Japanese player in electronics and semiconductor solutions, discussed opportunities to strengthen the electronics value chain in Karnataka. The delegation urged the company to initiate EMS (electronics manufacturing services) operations in Bengaluru. Restar shared that it was entering into a joint venture with an Indian partner to establish distribution operations in India.
The Government of Karnataka assured full support to Restar in its upcoming ventures and encouraged the company to consider future expansion in the state.
The visit is part of the Government of Karnataka’s broader efforts to attract high-value investments from Japan, to reinforce the state’s position as India’s leading destination for advanced industries and innovation.
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