Japan is planning to invest 1.2 trillion yen (15 billion dollars) in 19 infrastructure projects in western India, the Nikkei business daily reported Wednesday. The projects include a desalination plant, a liquefied natural gas power plant, next-generation grids and power plants as well as transportation and distribution projects, the Nikkei said.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Japanese Premier Yoshihiko Noda had been expected to reach an agreement on the plans during Singh's visit to Japan starting Thursday, it said. But the visit was postponed after Noda announced that he would dissolve the lower house Friday and call a new election December 16, the Kyodo News agency reported, citing India's Ministry of External Affairs. As Japan's relations with China deteriorate, Tokyo considers expanded collaboration with India important for the economy and foreign policy, Molleo voted government officials as saying.