FUKUOKA -- India is set to open a consulate in the Kyushu region's Fukuoka Prefecture, its second in Japan, seeking enhanced collaboration between India and the prefecture.

Ambassador of India to Japan Sibi George reported the plan to Fukuoka Gov. Seitaro Hattori on Sept. 27 in a meeting at the Fukuoka Prefectural Government headquarters. "We are willing to cooperate in any way we can," Gov. Hattori told the ambassador.

Currently, India has one consulate in the country, the Consulate General of India, Osaka-Kobe, in the city of Osaka.

Noting the deep ties enjoyed by India and Japan, Ambassador George called Fukuoka an essential city for India in many ways, including industry and human resource exchange. He said that his country aims to open the new consulate general by the end of December.

The ambassador proposed holding India-themed business seminars in Fukuoka, as well as organizing a "Fukuoka Prefecture Day" at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo to provide an opportunity for exchange.

Gov. Hattori referred to new industrial activity in Kyushu, such as the opening of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s semiconductor foundry in Kumamoto Prefecture in February, and stated, "We'd like to deepen our exchanges in various fields, and see talent from India play an active role in Fukuoka."

(Japanese original by Kentaro Nagaoka, Kyushu News Department)