India and Japan on Thursday unveiled a Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation, agreeing to deepen collaboration across five strategic sectors: semiconductors, critical minerals, information and communication technology (ICT), clean energy, and pharmaceuticals. The declaration also includes stepping up efforts to build resilient supply chains and counter economic coercion.
Elevating Economic Security Partnership
The India-Japan Joint Declaration on Economic Security Cooperation states that the two countries will elevate their economic partnership by strengthening cooperation in critical technologies, supply chains, and emerging industries. According to the declaration, it seeks to elevate the economic security partnership to a new level by providing strategic and practical guidance that strengthens, accelerates, and reinforces the India-Japan economic security partnership based on strategic autonomy and indispensability.
Concerns Over Global Supply Chain Risks
Both countries expressed grave concerns over the growing risks to global supply chains and unfair trade practices. The declaration notes that both sides reiterate their grave concerns over the use of economic coercion and non-market policies and practices (NMPPs), including arbitrary export restrictions that may lead to supply chain disruptions, particularly on critical minerals and critical industrial sectors, as well as price manipulation. India and Japan agreed on the importance of maintaining a fair competitive global environment and establishing a resilient and reliable supply chain among like-minded partners to promote collective resilience.
Project-Based Collaboration in Five Sectors
As part of the declaration, both countries committed to promoting project-based collaboration and public-private partnerships in semiconductors, critical minerals, ICT, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals.
Semiconductors
In semiconductors, both sides will strengthen and diversify supply chains in manufacturing, deepen cooperation in manufacturing, research, design, and skill development, and welcome greater participation of Japanese companies under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Critical Minerals
On critical minerals, the two countries agreed to promote technical cooperation between the Geological Survey of India and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). They will also establish an ecosystem for e-waste collection and recycling to improve recovery of critical minerals.
ICT
In ICT, India and Japan agreed to facilitate business collaboration in advanced 5G technologies, All-Photonics Network (APN), data centres, submarine cables, and Open RAN products and technologies beyond 5G and 6G.
Artificial Intelligence
The declaration also outlines an expanded agenda on artificial intelligence (AI), with both countries agreeing to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI by fostering diversified, resilient, and trusted supply chains. Under the AI Strategic Dialogue and Economic Security Dialogue, they will facilitate shared computing resources, support development of foundational AI models, promote talent exchange, collaborate on AI safety testing and governance, and address supply chain dependencies in AI technologies.
Clean Energy
In clean energy, India and Japan agreed to jointly support a landmark clean ammonia project in Odisha while expanding cooperation in hydrogen, batteries, solar, nuclear energy, carbon credit trading, biofuels, and biogas.
Pharmaceuticals
In pharmaceuticals, the declaration says both sides will explore alternative supply chains for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs), conduct supply chain vulnerability assessments, and promote research collaborations in biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars.
Broader Cooperation in Emerging Technologies
Beyond the five sectors, the declaration says both countries will strengthen cooperation in critical and emerging technologies such as AI, quantum technologies, space science, supercomputing, advanced materials, and data centres. They will also promote two-way talent mobility and deeper academic collaboration.
Multilateral and Regional Impact
The declaration notes that India-Japan economic security cooperation will complement broader multilateral efforts under the G7, G20, and Quad while contributing to greater economic resilience across the Indo-Pacific region.
