PM holds dialogue with Japanese firms

Speaking at the event, PM Phuc expressed his delight that 15 Japanese firms want to expand investment in Vietnam, which will provide a source of encouragement for the nation to continue improving its business environment and create favourable conditions for firms to do successful business, including those from Japan.

The Vietnamese Government highly values the role of the Japanese business community, with serious and responsible investors who contribute to the State budget, pay attention to environment protection and care for workers, he said.

According to him, the Vietnamese legislature adopted the Law on Investment, the amended Law on Enterprises, the Law on Public-Private Partnership with a number of incentives.

He stressed that with a population of nearly 100 million and being part of the dynamic 650 million-strong bloc of ASEAN, Vietnam is big enough for business plans and suitable for restructuring, shift of regional and global supply chains by foreign investors, especially those from Japan.

The leader informed that a working group in charge of promoting foreign investment cooperation led by a Deputy PM has been established in order to catch opportunities and deal with major investors’ suggestions.

The PM also directed resuming commercial flights to several safe destinations, including Japan.

Vietnam always welcomes Japanese firms to expand investment in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, high-quality agriculture, information technology, smart urban development, financial and banking services, innovation-based start-up, as well as in joining the equitisation of State-owned enterprises as strategic partners, he said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

The Vietnamese Government, leaders of ministries, agencies and localities will stand side by side with the business community, offer all possible support to business operations to lift Vietnam-Japan ties to a greater height, he added.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio, for his part, said over the past two decades, the Vietnamese economy has grown rapidly and ties between Vietnam and Japan have become deeper.

He added that while countries are battling with COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam has soon recovered and directly benefited from diversified supply chains in the world.

According to him, a number of Japanese firms are considering a shift of production facilities to Vietnam. He hoped that Vietnam will catch this opportunity.

The ambassador also expressed his support for the resumption of flights between the two nations, thus improving disbursement for public projects at present, attracting more foreign investors to Vietnam, and improving Vietnam’s credit rankings.

He affirmed that Japan will continue assisting firms in investing in Vietnam as well as helping the Southeast Asian nation develop its economy in the new normal condition.

The Japanese firms also mentioned issues in investment cooperation with Vietnam such as human resources, support industry, research and development, among others.

The Vietnamese PM asked ministries, agencies and localities to promptly tackle difficulties faced by businesses and vowed all possible support to Japanese business operations.