Japanese prefecture hopes to boost business ties to Vietnam
Japanese prefecture hopes to boost business ties to Vietnam
The Governor of Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture Kuroiwa Yuji recently suggested building an industrial park in Vietnam for firms from the prefecture, hoping to increase investment in the Southeast Asian country.
The governor made the statement to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Minister of Industry and Trade Bui Quang Vinh during a visit between July 24 and 26 that was also joined by a delegation of ten firms from the prefecture to explore opportunities in Vietnam.
Kanagawa, which had $307 billion in GDP in 2013, comparable to Denmark or Thailand, is strong in agricultural technology, Yuji said. Kanagawa wants to help Vietnam train labour in this field, and also hopes to receive Vietnamese orderlies, nurses and hi-tech professionals to work in the prefecture.
During the visit, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Van Trung and Governor Yuji signed a memorandum of understanding on co-operation between the ministry and Kanagawa authorities.
Accordingly, the two parties will exchange information, carry out trade promotion activities, and help firms from Vietnam invest in the prefecture and vice versa.
According to Yuji, there are currently 40 firms from the prefecture investing in Vietnam.
Four Japanese prefectures, namely Kanagawa, Aichi, Saitama and Fukuoka, have established economic co-operation relationships with Vietnamese provinces.
Japan ranks fourth among countries and territories in terms of direct investment in Vietnam, with $438.7 million in the first half of 2014, accounting for 9 per cent of the total, reported the General Statistics Office.
vir
