Karnataka Attracts Japanese Firms with New Plants, Investments

Industries Minister MB Patil said Thursday that the Japanese multinational Air Water, a major manufacturer of industrial gases, would establish its second production facility in Karnataka, close to Bengaluru. Vijayanagar is already home to the company's first factory.

In addition to the new facility, Air Water has also expressed interest in establishing a biogas production unit in the state, using raw materials such as cow dung and iron pulp. “This unit will help meet the growing local demand for biogas,” Minister Patil said. The announcement comes as part of his official visit to Japan with a high-level state delegation.

While meeting with Konoike, a Japan based industrial services and engineering company, the delegation was able to discuss potential joint ventures and expansion possibilities. Konoike expressed an interest in finding local partners for the development of industrial solutions, and the minister assured the delegation full support for partnerships.

Also Read: Invinity Partners for Strategic India Entry

As part of the official visit to Japan, the Karnataka delegation visited the Health, America and Japan pavilions at the Osaka World Expo 2025 and explored partnership opportunities and collaboration across various industries. Overall, the visit to Japan demonstrated the commitment of the state to develop global partnerships and attract advanced technologies to enhance its industrial base.

Several Japanese businesses confirmed new investments in Karnataka during the talks. Shinko Nameplate declared its intention to build a ₹100 crore plant in the Bengaluru area to produce ornamental plastic components for automobiles. Similarly, Toyota Group's Cataler Company pledged to strengthen its long-term presence in the state by investing an extra ₹140 crore to expand its Bidadi operations by 2030.