New Delhi – In a move that could be best described as a turbocharged handshake between samurai precision and jugaad innovation, Maruti Suzuki India Limited has signed an MoU with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to supercharge startup ecosystems in both India and Japan.
The agreement, exchanged with due ceremony and zero traffic delays (we assume), sees two economic titans shaking hands not just over automotive tech, but the future of bilateral innovation. Representing the power duo were Dr. Tapan Sahoo, Executive Officer, Digital Enterprise at Maruti Suzuki, and Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General of JETRO India — under the approving gaze of Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki.
The goal? To create a two-way expressway of innovation, where Indian startups get access to Japan’s structured, high-tech ecosystem, and Japanese startups can explore the dynamic, sometimes chaotic, but undeniably exciting world of Indian entrepreneurship — think Kyoto meets Koramangala.
Eligible Indian startups from Maruti Suzuki’s innovation garage (a.k.a. their four programs: Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge, and Nurture) will now have their passports stamped for Japan. Meanwhile, Japanese startups can plug into the high-voltage energy of Indian markets via JETRO.
“Startups are the spark plugs of economic growth,” said Hisashi Takeuchi, keeping it suitably automotive. “Through this MoU, we’re helping Indian innovation take the fast lane into Japan—and vice versa. It’s about building cars, sure, but also building bridges.”
Takashi Suzuki added, “This is not just about business; it’s about bonding. Maruti Suzuki is a shining symbol of Indo-Japanese collaboration. We now hope to replicate that success in the startup space, ideally with fewer gear shifts.”
From electric vehicles to AI-powered auto parts and shared mobility, the collaboration promises to fuel new business engines while giving startups the tools—and torque—they need to scale.
If all goes well, expect a future where your car’s dashboard says “Namaste” and “Konnichiwa” in the same breath.
