OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2016. Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, is on a visit to Tokyo, Japan to attend the 8th India-Japan Energy Dialogue. Shri Goyal held the Energy Dialogue with his Japanese counterpart Mr. Motoo Hayashi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry on Tuesday wherein both the sides discussed a wide range of issues related to the energy sector, deepening the ongoing co-operation and also issued a Joint Statement. This is the first Ministerial level visit from India to Japan post the successful visit of the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India in December 2015. The Minister invited his Japanese counterpart to visit India for the 9th Energy Dialogue, at a mutually convenient time, in 2017. Shri Goyal is accompanied by a business contingent from India, representing over thirty Indian business enterprises and Public Sector Undertakings, apart from the official delegation. Shri Piyush Goyal was received by Masakazu Toyoda CEO The Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ).

While addressing the 8th India-Japan Energy Dialogue, Shri Goyal said “the potential for bilateral cooperation in this sphere has enormous positive implications in our quest for sustainable energy growth and consumption, and improving the quality of life for our peoples. The use of energy efficiency measures as well as promotion of cleaner and renewable sources of energy in India is a step in this direction and this is reflected in the wide scope and agenda of the bilateral energy dialogue. India is committed and is steadily moving away from its dependence on fossil fuels while adopting advanced technologies to start 'smart' from the beginning while addressing its developmental priorities.”

During the visit, Shri Piyush Goyal will be meeting the Japanese leadership and interacting with the captains of the Japanese industry. The Minister will participate in a roundtable seminar at the Institute of Energy Economics of Japan (IEEJ). On the sidelines of the Energy Dialogue, five interactive sessions on relevant themes of Clean Coal Technologies and Efficient Coal Based Power Generation, Super-Efficient Appliances and LEDs, Energy Efficient Petroleum Refining-Energy Audit refineries, Energy Storage Technologies and Smart Grids/Smart Meters will take place between the Indian and Japanese companies. The themes were selected based on India’s energy needs and with a view to further deepen the cooperation in the energy sector between the two sides such that Japanese technology and capital can be dovetailed with Indian high skilled human resources and “Make in India” to create win-win situations bilaterally and beyond.

The primary objective of the visit is to optimize the technology cooperation and utilize it to benefit the common populace in all spheres of life. It is the endeavor of the Government to enhance the partnership with Japan to improve energy access at affordable prices to the people of India. The potential for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector has enormous positive implications in our quest for sustainable energy growth and consumption, and improving the quality of life for our peoples. The use of energy efficiency measures as well as promotion of cleaner and renewable sources of energy in India is a step in this direction and this is reflected in the wide scope and agenda of the bilateral energy dialogue. India is committed and is steadily moving away from its dependence on fossil fuels while adopting advanced technologies while addressing it’s developmental priorities. This bilateral cooperation will further positively contribute to global efforts in combating the challenges of climate change.