India and Japan need to establish firm partnerships and enter a new era of economic cooperation to capitalise on mutual complementarities, visiting Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said on Wednesday while addressing the joint business forum organised by industry chambers Assocham, CII and FICCI.
Japan can contribute to India's rapidly growing manufacturing sector which is being driven by a large middle class, said Noda.
A total of 421 Japanese companies have established their presence in India employing more than 1.5 lakh people.
"We need to step up cooperation at all levels. In the economic sphere, there are mutual complementarities with India. Japan can contribute a lot by entering into a new era of partnership," said Noda who is leading a 27-member business delegation.