UP, Yamanashi Launch ₹600-Crore Fund to Boost MSME Growth

Uttar Pradesh and Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture took a major step towards strengthening economic and cultural ties by signing a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) at the UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026, held on August 21 at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow. The event, which was also called the Japan-India Business Networking Event, saw the announcement of a dedicated fund of ₹600 crore aimed at supporting Yamanashi-based Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that invest in Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath presided over the signing and emphasized the state’s commitment to facilitating greater ease of doing business for Japanese investors. He announced the creation of a dedicated Yamanashi Desk at Invest UP, which will serve as a coordination and approval-support hub for Japanese investors in the state. The two governments also instituted a 90-day review mechanism focused on land allotment monitoring and the expeditious resolution of investment-related issues, aiming to streamline administrative procedures for foreign investors.

A total of four MoUs were exchanged between the Uttar Pradesh government and Japanese entities, covering areas such as technical training, skills development, tourism, and the establishment of Japanese Global Capability Centres in the Noida and Greater Noida regions. In a related move, Invest UP signed an agreement with the Technical Training & Research Centre in Kanpur, focused on workforce development and building stronger placement linkages for skilled workers.

Promoting closer cultural connections, the Uttar Pradesh Tourism Department entered an MoU with Japanese partners to boost Buddhist-themed tourism and attract related investments into the state. This move aligns with Uttar Pradesh’s rich Buddhist heritage, which includes historic sites like Sarnath and Kushinagar that seek to draw international visitors, particularly from Japan.

In the area of legislative cooperation, Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Satish Mahana and Hidenori Miyamoto, Chairman of the Yamanashi Prefectural Assembly, signed a dedicated memorandum focused on fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration at the legislative level.

The UP-Japan Investment Meet 2026 was attended by key political and business leaders from both sides, affirming their intent to accelerate investment, strategic partnerships, and skills exchanges. With targeted funds and focused administrative support, the agreements reflect a growing recognition of Uttar Pradesh’s attractiveness as a destination for Japanese investment and a gateway for deeper bilateral cooperation.