Rising expectations for Japan-India cooperation: Webinar on Japan–India Partnership for Decarbonising the Industrial Sector

IGES organised a webinar on “Japan–India Partnership for Decarbonising the Industrial Sector” on 24 February 2026, with the cooperation of TERI.

Opening Remarks
Speakers emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between Japan and India in supporting low-carbon industrial development. Mr. Girish Sethi, Senior Director, Energy Program, TERI, highlighted that India’s large industrial sector offers significant opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency. Mr. Milind Deore, Secretary, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), stressed the importance of focusing on a low-carbon transition, particularly as economic growth continues to increase energy demand. Mr. Hiroshi Ono, Executive Director, IGES, referred to the ongoing collaboration between IGES and TERI, while Mr. Tatsuki Hirakawa, Second Secretary, Embassy of Japan in India, noted Japan’s net-zero ambitions and the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation.

Discussion Session 1
The first session highlighted practical initiatives and cooperation to support industrial decarbonisation. Dr. Satoshi Kojima, Program Director, Kansai Research Centre, IGES, introduced activities under the JITMAP initiative in India, including efforts to improve operational practices that could achieve significant energy savings and stakeholder awareness initiatives in regions such as Gujarat, and then introduced one of the JCM-related projects funded by the Ministry of Environment, Japan, as an example. Following the introduction, Dr. Kojima served as the session moderator and invited Mr. Peush Jaitly, General Manager–Country Head, TLV India Pvt. Ltd., to discuss technologies and approaches for improving industrial energy efficiency, including steam system optimisation and better plant management. Contributions by Mr. Ketan Kakkar, CEO, GITCO Ltd., and Mr. Bhavdeep Shah, Head, Energy Conservation Cell, MANTRA, Surat, further highlighted the role of green finance and the importance of continued partnerships between Japan and India to support the transition toward low-carbon industrial systems.

Discussion Session 2
The panel discussion brought together key experts who addressed sectoral challenges and opportunities for industrial decarbonisation, which was moderated by Mr. Prosanto Pal, Director, Industrial Energy Efficiency, TERI. Mr. Kunal Soni, Head, Industrial Process & Environment, HORIBA India, highlighted the effectiveness of his institutional approaches in driving industrial transition and compared them with emerging private sector initiatives. Mr. M. G. Parikh, Consultant, Textile Industry, discussed the types of technologies that can be adapted in industries such as textiles, particularly in addressing water pollution concerns. Dr. Suneel Pandey, Director, Circular Economy & Waste Management, TERI, highlighted the importance of identifying priority sectors where Japanese technologies could be introduced in India to support future projects. Dr. Archana Walia, India Director, Clean Air Asia, focused on clean air initiatives and their linkages with broader environmental and industrial concerns.

Q&A / Closing Remarks
During the Q&A session, participants raised several practical and policy-oriented questions, including the operation of HORIBA and potential Japan–India partnerships in this relevant sector. The webinar concluded with closing remarks delivered by Dr. N. K. Ram, TERI.