India-Japan International Exchange Symposium 2026
- Strengthening the Partnership through the promotion of People-to-People Exchange between Japan and India -

Sponsorship	The Embassy of Japan in India
Date / Time	Thu, May 28,2026 19:30–22:50 (Japan Standard Time, JST) 16:00–19:20 (India Standard Time, IST)
Venue	Lalit Hotel（India・Delhi）and Held Virtually in English and Japanese ※On-site attendance is limited to related parties only.
Theme	【Opening Remarks】 Mr. SHUKURI Masafumi　Chairman, JTTRI 【Honorable Greetings】　 H.E. Mr. ONO Keiichi　Ambassador to India 【Keynote Addresses】 H.E. Mr. N.K. Singh President, Institute of Economic Growth; Chairman, 15th Finance Commission, Government of India H.E. Mr. HIRAMATSU Kenji Former Ambassador to India Chairman, Institute for International Strategy, the Japan Research Institute, Limited 【Panel Discussion】 〇Panel 1: The Significance, Challenges, and Future Prospects of International Exchanges 〔Moderator〕 Ms. Indrani Bagchi Chief Executive Officer, Ananta Centre 〔Panelist〕 H. E. Mr. Shyam Saran Former Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs President of the Board of Trustees, India International Centre H. E. Ms. Deepa G. Wadhwa Former Ambassador to Japan Member, Governing Council, Asian Confluence Mr. ARIYOSHI Takashi Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, the Embassy of Japan in India Ms. MIZUTORI Mami Specially Appointed Professor, Tohoku University Former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General 〇Panel 2: The Roles of Tourism and Cultural Policies in Driving International Exchanges 〔Moderator〕 H.E. Mr. HIRAMATSU Kenji Former Ambassador to India 〔Panelist〕 Dr. Jyotsna Suri Chairperson & Managing Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group Mr. Suman Billa　 Additional Secretary and Director-General, Ministry of Tourism Mr. MURATA Shigeki Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 【Closing】 Mr. YAMAKOSHI Toshihiro Distinguished Research Fellow / Senior Director, International Affairs Department, JTTRI

Event Summary

The Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute aims at producing useful and usable research results and is in the process of establishing a new overseas branch, "India Office (provisional)," this autumn, to build up a human network of public and private stakeholders and trustable relationship with foreign countries, especially with the South Asian countries including India, one of Japan's key partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
It is because, under the increasingly unstable international circumstances, the need for Japan and India to further deepen the cooperative relationship as a special partner has been increasing, particularly as India has accomplished outstanding economic growth over many years and its presence in the international community is steadily rising.
In this context, the broad and multi-layered people-to-people exchanges between Japan and India are not only essential for further development of the bilateral relations but also play a key role in fostering mutual understanding and trust, thereby contributing to the stability of the international community.
Against this backdrop, prior to the establishment of the new office, a symposium focusing on people-to-people exchanges will be meaningful to deepen discussions on the future direction of promoting broad and multi-layered international exchanges. This initiative aims to expand the people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and to contribute to further strengthening the Japan-India partnership.

Mainly related SDGs

Program of the seminar is as the following

Opening Remarks	Mr. SHUKURI Masafumi　Chairman, JTTRI Opening Remarks（File)
Honorable Greetings	H.E. Mr. ONO Keiichi　Ambassador to India
Keynote Addresses	H.E. Mr. N.K. Singh President, Institute of Economic Growth Chairman, 15th Finance Commission, Government of India H.E. Mr. HIRAMATSU Kenji Former Ambassador to India Chairman, Institute for International Strategy, the Japan Research Institute, Limited
Panel 1: The Significance, Challenges, and Future Prospects of International Exchanges	〔Moderator〕 Ms. Indrani Bagchi Chief Executive Officer, Ananta Centre 〔Panelist〕 H. E. Mr. Shyam Saran Former Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs President of the Board of Trustees, India International Centre H. E. Ms. Deepa G. Wadhwa Former Ambassador to Japan Member, Governing Council, Asian Confluence Mr. ARIYOSHI Takashi Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, the Embassy of Japan in India Ms. MIZUTORI Mami Specially Appointed Professor, Tohoku University Former Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General
Panel 2: The Roles of Tourism and Cultural Policies in Driving International Exchanges	〔Moderator〕 H.E. Mr. HIRAMATSU Kenji Former Ambassador to India 〔Panelist〕 Dr. Jyotsna Suri Chairperson & Managing Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group Mr. Suman Billa Additional Secretary and Director-General, Ministry of Tourism Mr. MURATA Shigeki Commissioner, Japan Tourism Agency, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism 資料
Closing	Mr. YAMAKOSHI Toshihiro Distinguished Research Fellow / Senior Director, International Affairs Department, JTTRI