Message from Consul-General, Mr. NAKANE Tsutomu

 I am pleased to announce my arrival as Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru. I have worked in Tokyo for the last two years and have previously worked in the USA, Thailand and Vietnam. This is my first assignment in India, but I am very much looking forward to working in Bengaluru, India's Silicon Valley, in this year of 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.
 
 Bengaluru is located on a plateau at an altitude of 920 meters and has a favorable climate all year round, which attracts many Japanese and foreign companies. As a result, it is attracting many people from diverse regions of India and from various countries and it is known as a culturally inclusive city.
 
 The relationship between Japan and the state of Karnataka, where Bengaluru is located, is deepening with each passing year. In terms of the economy, the number of Japanese company offices have increased from 451 to 519, during the period from 2015 to 2020, and exchanges are becoming more active.  Karnataka state government is making various efforts to attract Japanese companies to the state and to facilitate smooth operations of Japanese companies in the state, and the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce established an office in Tokyo in December ( 2021), the first overseas office, to promote exchange between Japanese and Karnataka companies.
 
 The number of visas issued by our Consulate-General has also increased from about 8,400 to about 14,000 in the five years till 2019 before the Covid19 pandemic.
　In terms of cultural exchange, before the Covid19 pandemic, the number of people taking the JLPT was about 1,600 in 2017, but in 2019 it had gained momentum to over 4,500, and the number of participants in the cultural events that were held by our Consulate-General doubled in two or three years till 2019. These trends show that the interest in Japanese language and culture is growing in the region.
 
 Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru had served 20 destinations as of 2018 and as of June 2022, it is serving 22 destinations in 18 countries, reflecting the calming of the Covid19 pandemic. Japan Airlines also started weekly round-trip flights in August 2021, increasing to two flights a week in March 2022. In August, the number of flights will increase to three flights per week. In addition, flights to Seattle, San Francisco and Sydney are reportedly scheduled to start, with Terminal 2 scheduled for completion by the end of 2022, which will help in the growth of the Airport and make Bengaluru an even more cosmopolitan city.
 
 The Consulate-General of Japan in Bengaluru, based on the various achievements of the first Consul-General Mr. Kitagawa and the second Consul-General Ms. Sugita, will continue to play a solid role in promoting economic activities and cultural exchanges between Karnataka and Japan in cooperation with the Japanese Association Bangalore and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangalore, and in promoting the safety of Japanese residents in the state.