Amphibious planes from Japan top Navy’s shopping list

India is planning to acquire at least 15 amphibious aircraft for the Indian Navy from Japan and is setting up a joint working group to decide the terms of the cooperation. These could possibly include joint production, operation and training on the US-2 amphibious aircraft. The Indian Navy earlier issued a request for information (RFI) for the aircraft. Canada's Bombardier, Japan's ShinMaywa and Russia's Beriev had offered their aircraft to meet the requirements.

Speaking to FE on conditions of anonymity, a senior officer said, "All the three aircraft failed in the field evaluation trials (FET), carried out on calm and rough seas. Also because there is a lack of experience of the Indian Navy in amphibian aircraft operations."

The need for the amphibian aircraft was felt mostly for geo-strategic reasons. "The amphibious aircraft will be placed in the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Indian Ocean, which is the base of India's Tri-Command, meant to keep a vigil on China. The aircraft would spearhead any littoral warfare operations in the Indian Ocean," explained an officer.

The sale, if it happens, will be the first of a finished product made by Japan's homegrown defence industry since rules were imposed restricting the export of weapons systems and other equipment. It would also mark a strengthening of the alliance between India and Japan, which both see rising China as a threat to regional stability.

"The aircraft will be used for maritime patrol, anti-surface warfare, electronic intelligence and search-and-rescue missions as they are not equipped to carry on any weapons load."
During a recent visit by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Tokyo, the two sides firmed up plans for Delhi to purchase the US-2, a domestically-developed aircraft used by Japan's armed forces. The aircraft has a range of 4,500 kilometers and can be used for strategic interests in the Asia-Pacific.

Japan orders airlines to inspect modified Dreamliners

Japan's two main airlines, JAL and ANA, have been ordered to thoroughly inspect all of their Boeing 787 Dreamliners after last weekend's discovery of a problem with one of JAL's planes, Transport Minister Akihiro Ota said.

 

He also directed the two companies to review their methods for supervising maintenance work performed by manufacturer Boeing, who had modified the battery of that JAL aircraft after the series of technical problems that forced authorities to ground all 787s for about four months.

The incident involving the JAL Boeing 787 Sunday came just a day after both firms had resumed commercial flights with Dreamliners for the first time since Jan 16.

 

On Sunday, the pressure sensor on the plane's battery cover registered a difference in air pressure between the exterior and the interior of the battery container during a pre-flight safety check.

According to JAP, the pressure differential occurred due to faulty maintenance by Boeing.

Problems with the 787 fleet have been mounting since January, when a series of failures in the planes' lithium-ion batteries forced authorities to suspend operations with the almost 50 jets used by airlines around the world.

After approving the improvements in the new batteries redesigned by Boeing, US and Japanese authorities in April gave the green light to resuming 787 flights.

The land of rising partnerships. India has reasons to cheer

The country that had been written off by many is now readying to take centre stage. Under a new leadership, Japan is already cresting ripples by stepping up its global engagement.

In recent weeks, a few important developments underlined its renewed aggression to take back its position as a global economic leader.

India stands to gain much from the resurgence of Japan. The revival of Japan’s global influence is a great development for India that has seen its regional influence wane. India’s declining economic strength allowed China to offer more to south Asian neighbours.

Japan’s global view is closer to India than to China. Japan’s recent moves have been a pleasant development.

The first was Japan’s pledge to offer economic support to Africa. And the second was the fresh burst of economic collaboration with India during a visit by prime minister Manmohan Singh. Japan is also exerting its influence in Myanmar, that will host the East Asia summit of World Economic Forum this week.

China has been the big player in Africa for the last few years. But by announcing assistance of $32 billion, prime minister Shinzo Abe made it clear that Japan will not be left behind. This assistance will be a combination of aid and support to private sector projects that invest in infrastructure.

Japan’s strategy for Africa is similar to India’s. Both countries are investing in social infrastructure like health and education while focussing on building capacity and talent.

Not surprising then that Japanese companies are considering partnerships with India. This combination could offer formidable competition to state-owned Chinese companies that remain focused on extractive  activities.

Shinzo Abe was also in Myanmar in late May to reinforce his nation’s presence in the country that is opening up. Japan wrote off over $5 billion of outstanding debt and offered another $500 million to Myanmar.

The east Asia summit of WEF that begins this week in capital Nay Pyi Taw is the first global conference after sanctions were lifted against Myanmar. Big investors from US, Japan and India are hoping to contribute to boosting infrastructure and utility services.

Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Shinzo Abe created a productive roadmap for bilateral relations that extended into defence ties. This partnership has led to some worries being expressed in China. Japan is being accused of encircling its strengthening partnerships with India, Myanmar and even Vietnam.

India can ally with Japan to take on the Chinese influence in the region. China violently objected to India’s  exploration of oil and gas in South China Sea with Vietnam. And now it watches as several Indian companies are in the running for off shore and onshore oil fields in Myanmar.

Companies like Jubilant Energy, Oil India, ONGC Videsh are in the fray for auction of 30 blocks.

Economic dynamics in Asia will now be far more balanced with India and Japan countering the might of China.

Japan tests its 500 kmph "floating" bullet train

Japan tests its 500 kmph "floating" bullet train
India TV webteam

Tokyo: These are the trains of the future, designed to travel with magentic levitation technology -  trains that "float" at a breakneck speed of 500 kilometres per hour.

Japan displayed the first five coaches of the new train, having an aerodyanmic "nose" in the front, at a test track in Yamanashi Prefecture on Tuesday.

The new generation LO series trains, employ the latest magnetic levitation technology instead of wheels, and will begin commercial runs in 2027.

The coaches are propelled by magnetic forces, and are pulled along the rail track by a special maintenance vehicle.

Wide-ranging  tests will begin in September, Japanese officials said.

The new "floating" bullet train, designed by Central Japan railway Co  (JR Tokai), will link central Tokyo with Nagoya station and will reduce the current bullet train time from 90 minutes to 40 minutes.

Japan is planning to introduce bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

The final "floating" train will have 16 coaches which will carry up to 1,000 passengers at a time. The service will be extended to Osaka by 2045.

Japanese officials said, the ultimate plan was to create a high-speed mass transit Maglev network across the Japanese islands.

Japan launched its bullet train (shinkansen)  first in 1964 when it hosted the Olympic Games.

Japan has the world's most sophisticated railway network system, with bullet trains running at speed of up 320  kmph across more than  2,250 km tracks.

Japan is currently investing heavily in maglev (magnetic levitation) technology to remain in the forefront of rail engineering, with China giving strong competition.

China has its Shanghai maglev train capable of running at a top speed of  430 kmph, though the average speed is 245 kmph because of track limitations.

Investments making up for trade deficit with India: Japan

Investments from Japan into India are compensating for the widening trade deficit between the two countries following implementation of the free trade agreement in 2011, a Japanese official said today.

"If we look at the relationship in its totality, we can conclude that on a capital transfer basis, the investment flow from Japan to India has more than compensated the trade deficit," Tamaki Tsukada, Minister (Economic), Embassy of Japan in India said here at a FIEO function.

The Indian industry raised concerns that Japan is benefitting more from the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) than India.

Tsukada said people should not raise concerns over the increasing exports of Japan to India after implementation of the CEPA in August, 2011.

"In the past two years, some people complain that after CEPA, the trade deficit has increased and they jump to the conclusion that CEPA has not served well Indian exports but I think this is very much short sighted or simplistic view of what CEPA is?.

"Of course trade component of CEPA is important but it is not just the trade aspect which makes CEPA, we also have to acknowledge the very important and robust provision in the investment chapter which provides the very fundamental framework to our economies," he said.

Tsukada said that Japanese investment into India has increased seven fold between 2008 and 2012 and Japan is the third largest source of investment for India.

He said that over 1,000 Japanese companies have set up offices in India and have created over 1,50,000 jobs in India.

Citing examples of Toyota, Hitachi and Panasonic, he said that Japanese companies are using India as a hub to export in the overseas market.

During April 2000 and March 2013, India has received USD 14.55 billion FDI from Japan.

On trade he said that, since 2002, bilateral commerce between the countries have increased by six times. Currently it stood at USD 18.77 billion.

While, India's imports from Japan has increased by over 3 per cent to USD 12.5 billion the last fiscal, the country's exports to Japan declined to USD 6.26 billion during the last fiscal, from USD 6.32 billion in 2011-12.

Speaking at the occasion, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry G H Bambawale said that huge business opportunities exists in both the countries to enhance economic relations.

Citing the success story of the country's largest car-maker Maruti Suzuki India, Bambawale said: "we need few more success stories in few other sectors".

Speaking at the occasion, Vice President in the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Amit Goyal said that they have inked an MoU with Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) to promote and strengthen business relations between the countries.

India, Japan business bodies join hand to encourage small and medium enterprises

The Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) have agreed to jointly encourage business ties between Indian and Japanese small and medium enterprises (SME), informed FIEO official. “SME are the 1 who are more aggressive for partnership concern or the proprietorship concern so they have the potential but they don't know how to do business in Japan. That's why FIEO along with JETRO come forward to help them," Vice President, FIEO, Mr. Amit Goyal said on the sidelines of a seminar on Emerging Business Opportunities under Indo-Japan Economic Partnership, jointly organised by FIEO and JETRO in New Delhi.

He also said, "Our emphasis is on the SME sector because 70% of our members are SME. The big players like Tata or Reliance, don't need a handholding. They have their own marketing team, research team and they knowledge everything. But SME industry wants support. So our focus is going to be only on the SME industry.”

Mr. Goyal said, FIEO in association with JETRO is organizing a 3 prong strategy to assist SME of the 2 nations. "It's a 3 prong strategy. One is having aggressive seminars in metros plus 2 tier cities. Second is to have exchange of delegation. We will take the SME delegation to Japan and exchange their delegation and then have Business to Business (B2B) meeting with them. So FIEO specializes in B2B meeting. And the third would be to participate in their leading exhibition and invite their exhibitors to come to India in the various exhibitions that we are having here.”

Ruchi Soya & Japan's J-Oil & TTC enter JV for high-quality edible oils

Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd, one of India's leading food and agro-based fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) players, entered a joint venture with J-Oil Mills Inc (J-Oil), one of Japan's leading edible oil companies, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC), one of the largest global trading companies in Japan.

Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd's board of directors consented to form the joint venture company, in which the Indian company will have a 51 per cent stake. J-Oil will have a 26 per cent stake, while the share of TTC would be 23 per cent. The joint venture company's board will have representatives from all the three companies.

It will be engaged in the production and marketing of high-quality, functional edible oils. Ruchi Soya's board also approved the sale and transfer of its soya processing business – currently based out of its plant situated in Shujalpur, Madhya Pradesh – to the proposed joint venture.

The joint venture plans to start supplying products to instituttional customers by the end of 2013, and launch high-quality consumer products in the Indian market in the second half of 2014.

Dinesh Shahra, founder and managing director, Ruchi Soya commented, “This alliance is an important step towards our business strategy of expanding our product portfolio by bringing value-added and healthier products. Ruchi Soya will provide raw materials and necessary marketing and distribution assistance to the JV. J-Oil will provide technical assistance and TTC, with its rich global experience, will provide management assistance for internal control and access to international markets through its network.”

Sumikazu Umeda, president and chief executive officer, J-Oil Mills said, “The main purpose of this investment is to start our first-ever business activity overseas in a promising country like India. J-Oil sees India as a vast and fast-growing market and has plans to establish as a leading company in the high-quality value-added edible oil segment.”

Yoshiki Miura, managing director, Toyota Tsusho Corporation, said, “Ruchi J-Oil JV provides us the appropriate crossover opportunity to leverage our business networks, product portfolios and skill sets. We created Global Vision 2020 in which we identified three business areas that we expect sustainable growth in. We aim to expand the food business to the life and community fields.”