Tokyo, 23 June 2025: ERIA, in collaboration with Medical Excellence Japan (MEJ), successfully co-hosted the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Delegation Business Matching Event at the Nihonbashi Life Science Hub.

The event drew strong interest from key public and private stakeholders, including representatives from the Embassy of India in Japan; Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI); and the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan. ERIA, MEJ, and CII jointly reaffirmed their commitment to advancing healthcare collaboration across Asia. The event brought together over 100 participants, including 23 Indian delegates and 24 Japanese companies, to explore partnerships in medical innovation, technology transfer, and investment.

The event opened with a joint press statement from ERIA, MEJ, and CII, emphasising their shared vision of strengthening Asia’s healthcare ecosystem through knowledge exchange, capacity building, joint research and initiatives, and public-private partnerships.

Dr Manami Uechi, ERIA’s Director of Healthcare Services, presented an overview of current ERIA Healthcare Unit projects, built on the four main research pillars: 1) Healthcare Policies, 2) Social Welfare, 3) Knowledge and Capacity Building, and 4) Healthcare System and Service Delivery. She reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to the success of the Medical Excellence in Asia (MExx) initiative, through which more people in the region will be able to gain universal access to safe, affordable, and quality healthcare services.

Prof. Dr Randeep Guleria, Leader of the Indian Healthcare Delegation, provided a comprehensive overview of India’s rapidly evolving healthcare sector. Building on the India–Japan Memorandum of Cooperation, the partnership has facilitated medical staff exchanges and joint training in disaster and outbreak management between Osaka and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

With India’s healthcare market projected to substantially grow and expected supply 60% of global vaccines, the pandemic revealed the country’s capacity to carry out rapid mass vaccination. The sector stands at a turning point, scaling digital infrastructure and redefining access and equity through the world’s largest primary care initiative. Innovations in robotics, AI, and blockchain are driving early detection and preventive care, especially for non-communicable diseases. Dr Guleria emphasised the need for India–Japan collaboration in areas such as innovation, smart care for older adults, and skill development to accelerate global healthcare solutions.

Mr Hemanshu Jain, Co-Chair of the CII Sub-Committee on Senior Care, the ageing with dignity initiative underscores a national commitment to older adult care, built on five foundational pillars. The programme invites co-innovation and fosters partnerships with insurance providers to ensure financial security for older people. Mr Jain’s company celebrates ageing as a shared human journey, emphasising autonomy and dignity for every older adult. With a unified vision, the initiative explores diverse models to support ageing populations, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to societal well-being.

Dr Shubnum Singh (Principal Adviser at CII) and Mr Yasuhiro Sensho (Sensho Gumi) co-led an open dialogue that encouraged engagement between Indian and Japanese companies, emphasising the importance of understanding India’s cultural context. Drawing parallels with the success of Suzuki in India, Dr Singh highlighted the need for similar handholding in healthcare and medtech collaborations. With India importing nearly 80% of its medical devices, Dr Singh stressed the urgency of local manufacturing to reduce foreign exchange burdens. She affirmed India's strength in digital innovation and its global business footprint, calling for deeper India–Japan cooperation. The partnership between CII, ERIA, and MEJ is poised to enhance bilateral business collaboration, with a shared vision of making India and Japan healthcare leaders.

Dr Sarah K. Abe, Manager of Healthcare Services at ERIA, delivered closing remarks that highlighted ERIA’s ongoing dedication to fostering regional health resilience and innovation, in alignment with its broader mission under the MExx initiative. ERIA Healthcare will strive to further strengthen the ERIA–CII partnership through impactful policy dialogues, mutual learning, and healthcare industry collaborations.