LUCKNOW, July 25 -- A high-level delegation from Uttar Pradesh, led by finance minister Suresh Khanna, held meetings in Japan's Tokyo and Osaka on Thursday to explore collaborations in semiconductor manufacturing, technology, skill development, and academic exchange during their visit to Expo 2025. In Tokyo, the delegation met Takeshi Okubo, corporate officer and executive vice president (global sales division and India business) of Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL), a leading semiconductor production equipment manufacturer. Discussions focused on the growing semiconductor ecosystem in Noida and opportunities for TEL to collaborate in manufacturing, skill development, and establishing global capability centres (GCCs) in the state. TEL officials expressed interest in setting up GCCs in UP, citing the availability of skilled talent, robust infrastructure, and industry-friendly policies. The meeting was also attended by Debjani Chakrabarti, Minister (economic & commercial), Embassy of India in Tokyo; Amit Singh, secretary to the chief minister and Vipin Kumar Jain, special secretary to the CM. In Osaka, finance minister along with officials from Invest UP, visited the Prefectural Assembly and held talks with chairperson Kinjo Katsunori and vice chairperson Kida Kaoru. Discussions included capacity building, youth upskilling, and technology exchange. Both sides acknowledged long-standing cultural ties and commercial opportunities. Separately, during preparations for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka, the University of Guarda (Polytechnic Institute of Portugal) expressed interest in partnering with Indian institutions for student exchanges, joint research, and faculty collaboration. At the UP Pavilion, senior delegate Rakesh Sharma proposed academic alliances with Banaras Hindu University and Dr Sampurnanand Sanskrit University in Varanasi through Invest UP, assuring full support for expanding global academic linkages....