The sixth edition of the India-Japan Intellectual Conclave, “KIZUNA-6: Scaling up Partnerships”, began on February 26, in Meghalaya, with a focus on strengthening cooperation between the two countries across key sectors. The two-day event is being organised by Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the Embassy of Japan, the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA), and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. In his welcome address, Asian Confluence Executive Director Sabyasachi Dutta highlighted the Assam government’s efforts to build infrastructure aimed at accelerating the overall development of the state and the wider Northeast region.
Delivering the inaugural address, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma highlighted the growing strength of the India–Japan partnership, particularly in infrastructure, healthcare, culture, agriculture and human resource mobility between the Northeast and Japan. He spoke about Meghalaya’s ambition to develop into India’s football hub as well as a music and cultural centre. The Chief Minister also pointed to the state’s potential to export high-value agricultural products such as bamboo and outlined 10 governance commitments covering connectivity, infrastructure and allied sectors.