Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stopped in the city for five hours on Thursday with a promise—he told Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee that his Government will explore opportunities for stronger involvement in the state’s various sectors.

Abe’s grandfather Nobusuke Kishi was the only other Japanese leader of such stature to have visited Kolkata way back in 1967. But when Kishi visited Kolkata, he was a “former PM”, not the one in office.

The most significant investment proposal came from the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation which has set up a Rs 4,000-crore joint venture here to manufacture purified terephthalic acid. The Mitsubishi Corporation said on Thursday the company will increase production and make fresh investments.

The team accompanying Abe also confirmed that the Japanese Government is in talks with the Centre regarding financial assistance to West Bengal in extending the Metro railway project and other infrastructure ventures.

Japanese officials also indicated that Suzuki has elaborate plans for fresh investments all over India. “They will spread their activity and operations,” said an official. Asked if their expansion plan includes Bengal, he replied: “At this stage we can only say they have big plans.”

Abe’s engagement in the city included the inauguration of an Indo-Japan cultural centre, a visit to the Netaji Research Centre in Kolkata and also to the Rabindra Bharati University’s Jorasanko campus.

Bengal’s sweets found a new fan in Shinzo Abe, who was reportedly prodded to taste them by the CM. “While Abe and his entourage had Italian for lunch, Bhattacharjee requested them to taste sweets for dessert. Abe ate rosogollas, gulab jamun and mishti doi. He liked the gulab jamun best,” said a minister, who attended the lunch.

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