The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) coordinated with the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI) to host a “Vietnam - Japan business meeting” in Hanoi on October 28, 2014 with an aim to enhance business connections and expand partnerships for companies of both countries.
The event coincided with the Vietnam visit by a delegation of nearly 50 Japanese companies led by Mr Yoichi Kobayashi, Chairman of Japan - Mekong Business Cooperation Committee to explore the market, seek partners and study investment cooperation opportunities.
The visitors are engaged in general trading, machine manufacturing, steel, electricity, power transmission, parts, beverage, aerospace, home appliances, software, IT and consulting.
Earlier, in a meeting with TCCI, VCCI Vice President Hoang Van Dung affirmed that Vietnam and Japan have long-standing and growing relations in various fields like economy, diplomacy, culture, science and technology. On July 26, 2013, the fifth phase of Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative was officially launched. This phase will last 18 months, from July 2013 to December 2014.
He also stressed that VCCI has close cooperative and effective relations with leading economic organisations of Japan like JETRO, Nippon Keidanren, JCCI and local chambers of commerce, and Keizai Doyukai. Besides, to boost trade, investment and tourism relations and create a dialogue channel for the business communities of the two countries, in 2007, VCCI established Vietnam - Japan Business Forum. The Japan Business Association in Vietnam is a partner of the forum. This is the official channel for the two business communities to raise their opinions to the Governments to make business environments and cooperation frameworks more favourable.
According to statistics, the two-way trade between Vietnam and Japan has developed rapidly in recent years. The bilateral trade turnover reached US$25.3 billion in 2013, ranking fourth in Vietnam’s two-way trade revenue after China, the United States and South Korea with US$50 billion, US$30 billion and US$27 billion, respectively.
In 2013, Japan was the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with US$5.682 billion, accounting for 27.3 per cent of the total FDI capital in Vietnam and bringing its investment value in Vietnam to US$34.583 billion with 2,127 projects. Japan is also the largest ODA donor for Vietnam. Its ODA capital is primarily channelled into five core areas: Human resource development and institution building; construction and renovation of transport and electricity works; agricultural development and rural infrastructure construction; education and health development; and environmental protection.
Yoichi Kobayashi said visiting Japanese companies want to expand cooperation with Vietnamese companies in various fields. This meeting will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Japanese companies to meet and discuss opportunities, approach markets and financial resources, build up partnerships, expand investment, and boost exports.
He said, with technological advantages, Japanese firms, including many big ones, can support Vietnamese firms to renovate technologies in various industries. The two sides expect Vietnamese and Japanese businesses to expand trade and investment cooperation in many fields, particularly those Vietnam needs and Japan can do.
At the meeting, representatives from many Japanese companies like NEC Corporation, Iron Works Co., Ltd, Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Technology Research Institute and Yasuda Seisakusho Co., Ltd introduce their companies and expected to find right Vietnamese partners.
Ha Vu
Vietnamese
