New Delhi, March 27 -- India is a key partner in Japan's 'China plus one' strategy but its global supply chain integration needs to match that of Southeast Asian nations, Takeuchi Takuro, chief representative of the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) in India, said on Thursday.

Takuro told Mint in an interview that both the Indian and Japanese governments were working on strengthening the South Asian country's presence in Japan's global supply chain, and promoting investments. "In the China context, India is one of the most important (partners) for Japan," he said, adding that JICA is determined to invest more in the country.

JICA, which is under the Japanese government, has committed to official development assistance (ODA)...