Lucknow: In a move to attract foreign investment and strengthen India's position as a global pharmaceutical hub, Invest UP has invited more than 125 leading Japanese pharmaceutical companies to explore opportunities in manufacturing, research and development (R&D), and healthcare innovation across Uttar Pradesh. As per a recent media report in the Manufacturing Today India, the initiative was discussed during a high-level virtual meeting held on October 25, 2025, which included participation from major Indian pharmaceutical companies such as TI Medicals, Torrent Pharma, and 3xper Innoventure, along with senior representatives from Japanese industry and academia. The meeting witnessed participation from Dr Yoshikazu Hayashi, representing the Kansai Pharmaceutical Industries Association, and Prof. Atsuko Kamiike of Chuo Gakuin University, who shared perspectives on strengthening Indo-Japanese collaboration in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. Discussions centered on leveraging Uttar Pradesh’s industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and business-friendly policies to position the state as a preferred global destination for pharmaceutical production and innovation. During the session, Prof. Kamiike commended India’s pharmaceutical sector for its reliability, innovation, and competitiveness, describing the country as the “Pharmacy of the World.” Highlighting the state’s potential, Awanish Awasthi, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, outlined several advantages including two AIIMS campuses, over 200 medical colleges, more than 25 MedTech startups, 13 expressways (seven operational and six under construction), five international airports, 16 domestic airports, and a 56% working-age population, underscoring the state’s readiness for large-scale industrial and healthcare investments. Officials also emphasized that the Uttar Pradesh Investment Promotion Policy 2023, which incorporates 33 sector-specific policies and provides a wide range of incentives to domestic and global investors, plays a pivotal role in attracting Japanese investment in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors. Manufacturing Today Indiareports that this policy framework was presented as one of the key enablers to foster stronger partnerships in manufacturing, contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs), and R&D collaborations between Japanese and Indian firms. The meeting concluded with Invest UP extending a formal invitation to Japanese pharmaceutical companies to visit Uttar Pradesh and explore the state’s rapidly developing pharmaceutical ecosystem and investment potential firsthand.