HYDERABAD: Telangana has signed letters of intent (LoIs) with several leading Japanese companies to establish an Eco Town in Hyderabad, marking a significant partnership in circular economy initiatives, municipal waste management, and environmental restoration.
On Saturday, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy led the TelanganaRising delegation to Kitakyushu, one of the world’s foremost cities in recycling and green transformation, where the agreements were signed. The delegation included Industries and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu and senior government officials.
At the historic Kokura Castle, Kitakyushu Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi received the delegation with a ceremonial welcome featuring Taiko drum performances and samurai sword demonstrations. He presented Kitakyushu’s journey from being one of Japan’s most polluted industrial cities to becoming a global model in sustainability and environmental safety.
Mayor Takeuchi said the city government and companies were eager to collaborate with Telangana, sharing their expertise, technologies, and best practices to support the state’s green ambitions.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy described the LoI signing as a milestone in Telangana’s vision to align development with sustainability. “We are delighted to witness these agreements between our government and leading Japanese firms in the fields of circular economy, waste management, and environmental restoration. We are committed to creating jobs and wealth while protecting our environment,” he said.
He added that the partnership would help establish Eco Town in Hyderabad, positioning it as a model in innovation-driven sustainability. The Japanese firms involved include EX Research Institute, P9 LLC, Nippon Steel Engineering, New Chemical Trading, and Amita Holdings.
“Since today is a special day for both Kitakyushu and Hyderabad, two good friends, it is the right time to explore the proposal for a sister city agreement,” Revanth said, responding to Mayor Takeuchi’s suggestion.
He added, “When we shake hands today, we are building a bridge for future generations. We share a vision, clean, circular, green and sustainable. Your Eco Town demonstrates what is possible when innovation meets commitment. We will work to realise the same in Hyderabad, particularly as we develop our Net Zero target Future City.”
Industries Minister Sridhar Babu outlined Telangana’s development roadmap and invited Japanese firms to invest in green infrastructure projects, including Metro Rail expansion, the Future City initiative, the Regional Ring Road, Radial Roads, and the Musi River rejuvenation.
“When you invest in Telangana, you will find a friendly government, strong infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a vision aligned with sustainability. Come and grow in Telangana,” he said.
The two sides discussed a range of collaborative ideas. Mayor Takeuchi requested that India consider launching direct flights between Kitakyushu and Hyderabad. In response, Chief Minister Reddy said he would raise the request with the Union government.
CM Revanth Reddy also suggested establishing a Japanese language school in Hyderabad to address the communication gap for skilled Indian professionals seeking opportunities in Japan. “You face a demographic challenge, and we have a skilled, youthful population. Language is the key barrier. If we can bridge that, our youth can contribute meaningfully,” he said.
Mayor Takeuchi, in turn, asked the Telangana government to support Japan by providing young, trained workers who could meet labour needs in various sectors.
Both leaders emphasised the need for a structured mechanism to ensure regular interaction, time-bound progress reviews, and rapid implementation of joint initiatives.
As part of the visit, the Kitakyushu city government hosted the Telangana delegation on a study tour, including a walk along the restored Murasaki River, visits to the River Restoration Museum and advanced industrial recycling plants. The tour showcased global best practices and technological innovation in circular economy and environmental regeneration.
Kitakyushu, located on the northern tip of Japan’s Kyushu Island and surrounded by cherry-blossom-lined Katsuyama Park, is globally recognised for transforming its polluted past into a clean and sustainable future.
This wide-ranging collaboration marks a new chapter in Indo-Japanese cooperation and brings Telangana one step closer to realising its vision for an Eco Town in Hyderabad.
