The Japanese Minister for Economic Security, Kimi Onoda, has been visiting India these past days, with one of her key objectives being to promote cooperation between Japan and India in the critical mineral supply chain.
Japan has long expressed interest in assisting India with mining and refining rare earth elements, offering financial support and technology in exchange for India exporting these rare earths to Japan.
Both political leadership and businesses from the two countries have previously shown interest in this collaboration. Onoda’s visit could potentially lead to a formal agreement, though no official announcement has yet been made.
It is no longer a secret—what remains most concerning for India is how Japan is progressing on its pledge made in August 2025 to invest 1 trillion yen over the next decade in India.
India itself has significant demand for rare earth elements, and how it can leverage Japan’s assistance to achieve self-sufficiency remains to be seen.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864403046181900/
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