Maruti Suzuki and JETRO Partner to Boost Startup Collaboration Between India and Japan

Maruti Suzuki India Limited has partnered with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to encourage innovation and create business opportunities for startups in both India and Japan. The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Wednesday to promote cross-border startup exchange and strengthen the innovation ecosystems in both countries.

Under the terms of the agreement, JETRO and Maruti Suzuki will collaborate to provide Japanese startups with access to India’s expanding innovation ecosystem while also supporting Indian startups in entering Japan’s startup environment. The MoU was signed by Mr. Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General of JETRO India, and Dr. Tapan Sahoo, Executive Officer of Digital Enterprise at Maruti Suzuki, in the presence of Maruti Suzuki’s Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi.

Under the terms of the MoU, Maruti Suzuki and JETRO will jointly support Indian startups in accessing Japan’s innovation ecosystem, while Japanese startups will be given opportunities to explore India’s growing startup landscape. Both organizations will also facilitate the participation of startups in relevant events and activities, helping them connect with suitable partners for collaboration.

Startups selected through Maruti Suzuki’s four innovation initiatives— Incubation, Mobility Challenge, Accelerator, and Nurture—will be eligible to participate in these engagements. Similarly, Japanese startups can enter the Indian market ecosystem through support from JETRO, enabling cross-border exchange and collaboration.

Maruti Suzuki has actively engaged with over 5,000 startups through its various innovation programs, shortlisting 150 and onboarding 25 as business partners. These initiatives aim to foster technology-driven solutions that address challenges in automobile manufacturing and mobility.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India highlighted the importance of startups in driving innovation and economic progress. He stated, “Startups are key drivers of innovation and economic growth. Through our multi-format innovation programs, we have collaborated with startups to co-create technology solutions relevant to the automotive and mobility sectors. This partnership with JETRO provides a valuable platform for Indian startups to explore the Japanese business environment.”

Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General of JETRO India, emphasized the significance of the partnership, saying, “Maruti Suzuki exemplifies the success of India-Japan collaboration. This MoU is designed to generate more opportunities for business cooperation, stimulate innovation, and strengthen the longstanding relationship between our countries.”

JETRO, or the Japan External Trade Organization, is a government-affiliated agency established in 1958 to support Japanese exports globally. Over time, its focus has expanded to facilitating foreign direct investment into Japan and assisting small and medium-sized Japanese enterprises in maximizing their international export potential.