Mumbai, Jul 31 (Reporter) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday made an appeal to new Consul General of Japan, Yagi Koji, to increase their investments in industry and infrastructure sectors in the state in the future as well. He made this appeal when the newly appointed Consul General of Japan paid a courtesy call on the Chief Minister at his official Varsha bungalow in south Mumbai. The Chief Minister further said that India and Japan are important countries in Asia and both countries have very old and strong relations. Maharashtra is the first-choice state for companies to invest in India, he said and informed that many Japanese companies are doing well in the state. He further said that Japanese companies have invested heavily in Maharashtra and have also contributed greatly to the infrastructure development of the state and Mumbai. Examples of this are the Mumbai Trans-Harbor Link and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, a dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. "Through our government, MTHL was completed within the expected time and opened for the public," he said. He also said that the work of bullet train has also been expedited. Shinde assured that a special industrial park will be developed at Supe in Pune district for Japanese companies and all kinds of support will be provided to the companies who want to invest in the state in the future as well. "It is our position that Koji should strengthen the relationship between India and Japan. The investment agreement signed by Toyota Kirloskar Company in the state today is an indication of the industry-friendly environment in Maharashtra," said the Chief Minister. Expressing his happiness, Koji said that Japan is happy that Japan is participating in the overall development of Maharashtra through projects like MTHL and Bullet Train. Under the leadership of CM Shinde, the projects in which Japan is participating are on the fast track, he added while praising the Chief Minister...////...