Mizuho Bank Global CEO Masahiko Kato, speaking to ET recently (for the first time since the announcement of Mizuho’s acquisition of Avendus Capital in December) made a clear statement -- India has rapidly become the most promising destination for Japanese companies. “Our strategy is to build the India-Japan corridor -- supporting Japanese companies entering India and Indian companies expanding overseas. We aim to bring the full strength of the Mizuho group --commercial banking, investment banking, and global boutique advisory -- into a single integrated offering. This model has succeeded for us in the US, and we are confident it will succeed here as well,” Kato was quoted in an ET report. He added that client inquiries related to India have surged sharply in recent years, rising more than 50% in FY2024 alone.