India-Japan Friendship Golf tournament held at DGC

By Rahul Banerji

The Delhi Golf Club was the venue for the first India-Japan Friendship golf tournament frecently to celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Grant Thornton Bharat, in partnership with the Delhi Policy Group and Ministry of External Affairs, organised the first of its kind event with wide participation from both sides.

There was enthusiastic participation from Japanese diplomats and corporate leaders and their Indian counterparts from the host organisations and business community.

Representatives of several leading Japanese companies and entities were among the participants, including JETRO, JCCII, Maruti Suzuki, Mitsui, Toray, Sojitz, Sumitomo, SMBC, Mizuho and Japan Airlines.

Japan’s ambassador to India, Satoshi SuzukiandNaveen Srivastava, additional secretary in the MEA joined the participants at the tee off and the post-game festivities.

Ambassador H. K. Singh, director general of DPGsaid the event symbolised the warm people-to-people ties that have been the hallmark of India-Japan relations since their inception 70 years ago.

Warm ties

As Asia’s leading maritime nations committed to democracy and the rule of law, India and Japan share important responsibilities for shaping a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Coming shortly after the successful Bilateral Summit held on March 19, this event is a particularly timely celebration of the India-Japan strategic partnership.

Added Grant Thornton Bharat chief executive Vishesh C. Chandiok, “2022 is a watershed year as it marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Japan and also coincides with the 75th year of India’s independence.

As two of the top three Asian economies, India and Japan are natural partners, complementing each other’s needs and strengths, while sharing essential political, economic and democratic values.

“As this relationship becomes the defining partnership of the new Asian era, driven by shared political, economic and strategic interests, I am confident that initiatives such as the India-Japan Friendship golf tournament will further strengthen the socio-economic ties between both countries.”

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