Asian Confluence in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in India and the Ministry of External Affairs, India (MEA), has been organizing the North East India - Japan Intellectual Conclave since 2021. Named “Kizuna” meaning “deep heart to heart communication”, the objective of the initiative has been to put the spotlight on collaboration projects between India and Japan in the North East India: highlighting achievements, scoping opportunities, and addressing challenges. 

Since its inception, the conclave has focused on promoting tangible collaborative projects between India and Japan, particularly in Northeast India and the Bay of Bengal region. These initiatives range from transformative projects with geopolitical significance to people-centric ideas and initiatives. The conclave highlights achievements, identifies opportunities, and addresses regional challenges. Garnering inputs from industry, academia and policymakers in India, Japan as well as the immediate neighbourhood, the conclaves held so far have been able to collate a rich set of recommendations. The aim of the process has been to continually create a community of champions on the ground spanning industry, government and academia as well as to nurture new ideas for the future. 

So far Asian Confluence has successfully hosted five editions of the Kizuna conclave. Each edition has had senior level participation (Foreign Secretary, Minister level) from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ambassador of Japan, Japanese and Indian industry and the state governments as well as representatives from Bhutan and Bangladesh. The conclave has been hosted in strategically important cities in North East India like Agartala, Guwahati and Shillong.

The KIZUNA Journey: