Jaipur, Aug. 24 -- Rajasthan and Japan will work together to expand the gems and jewellery industry, with a focus on increasing trade and creating greater employment opportunities, chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said on Sunday. Sharma said Rajasthan and Japan share a longstanding relationship and the state government is preparing a roadmap to promote the development of gems and jewellery as well as other industries linked to Japanese investment. He said a dedicated Japanese Zone has been developed with special facilities to provide Japanese companies with investor-friendly infrastructure in the state. The chief minister made the remarks during a meeting with a Japanese delegation to discuss industrial development and investment opportunities in Rajasthan. He called for greater collaboration between the Jaipur Jewellery Association and the Yamanashi Jewellery Association in technology, investment and business expansion. "Greater cooperation between the two associations can take the gems and jewellery trade to the next level, while also generating maximum employment opportunities," Sharma said. Referring to his visit to Japan in 2024, the CM said Japanese companies had expressed appreciation over the returns they had received from investments in Rajasthan, which he described as three to four times higher. He invited Japanese investors to set up industries in the state and assured them of support. Kofu city mayor Yuichi Higuchi, who was part of the Japanese delegation, praised Rajasthan's investor-friendly policies and the investment opportunities available in the state. Higuchi said around 180 Japanese companies are currently operating in Rajasthan. According to him, jewellers from Jaipur and Kofu are jointly expanding their jewellery business globally, while around 60 Jaipur-based companies are engaged in jewellery-related activities in Kofu City....