Japan wants India to be ''special economic partner''

Mumbai: Japan will accord ''special economic partner'' status to India - a move that will help mobilise investment from Asia''s largest economy in a big way - Japanese envoy to India Yasukuni Enoki told a gathering at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Enoki said the special economic partner status will be extended to India during prime minister Manmohan Singh''s visit to Japan next month, adding that Tokyo had not extended such a status even to its neighbours China and South Korea.

"We rank Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) as our top business partner in Asia. After that we are extending the special economic partnership to India," he said.

Enoki said they expect that GDP of India, China and Japan will be same by 2030 and Indian GDP will overtake that of Japan after 2030.

He said there has been a rapid growth in relationship between the two countries in the last few years and that has resulted in development of strategic partnership.

"The time is right for the special economic partnership between Japan and India. Under the status Japan will mobilise its investment, technology and know-how for development of Indian manufacturing industry," Enoki said.

The ambassador, who is accompanied by a Japanese business delegation, is on a day''s visit to Gujarat.