(VOV) – Japan is helping Vietnam build an industrialization development strategy, Japanese Envoy to Vietnam Hideo Suzuki has said.
Japan is Vietnam’s leading ODA donor, providing up to 40 percent of its total ODA funding.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe even chose Vietnam as the first destination in the overseas trip he embarked on immediately after taking office.
A VOV reporter has interviewed Japanese Envoy to Vietnam Hideo Suzuki on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnamese-Japanese diplomatic ties.
Reporter: What is your assessment ofthe two countries’ special relationship over the past 40 years?
Mr Suzuki: I value it highly and expect it to continue to thrive in the future. I can affirm that trade links are expanding beyond any expectations.
Our relations will benefit from the establishment of an ASEAN economic community by 2015. The resulting zero percent tax rate creates a wealth of trade cooperation opportunities.
We are very optimistic about trade links in the time to come.
Reporter: Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan have just organized exhibitions on Vietnam’s support industry in Hanoi. They formed part of celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Vietnamese-Japanese diplomatic ties. What do you think about these exhibitions?
Mr Suzuki: The exhibitions Japan has organized in Vietnam help local businesses access the most advanced machinery and innovative importers and assemblers in the region and world. These events showcase the best technology of 32 major Japanese companies. They welcomed 13,614 visitors.
Reporter: How do you evaluate the Vietnamese support industry?
Mr Suzuki: I think Vietnam’s support industry has great potential thanks to a relatively young labour force and high rates of consumption.
Ever-increasing FDI will stimulate Vietnam’s spare parts purchases, providing a springboard for support industry growth.
Reporter: How will Japan help Vietnam develop the support industry?
Mr Suzuki: Japan can assist Vietnam in two ways. We can increase human resource training cooperation and provide career guidance for Vietnamese workers.
More and more Japanese enterprises running business in Vietnam are demanding spare parts manufactured domestically, a boon to both sides. We plan to hold dialogues with the Vietnamese Government, encouraging them to adopt incentive policies to attract additional Japanese FDI.
Reporter:Could you please share a little of your experience attracting FDI to the support industry?
Mr Suzuki : The support industry is primarily run by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are more vulnerable than major conglomerates. Preferential policies, transparency, and appropriate financial packages are integral to their success.
Reporter: What policy would lure more Japanese support industry businesses to Vietnam?
Mr Suzuki: Vietnam should explicitly back a specific support industry to politically encourage its future development. We are helping Vietnam build an industrialization strategy under the Vietnam-Japan cooperation framework, laying a foundation for direct investment cooperation and facilitating the operations of major Japanese groups in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Government also needs to promote dialogues with business circles and the international community to address any issues the support industry is facing.
Reporter: How does Japan support businesses who have recently invested in Vietnam?
Mr Suzuki: Family issues are a major concern when Japanese businesses invest abroad. Education, material facilities, and spiritual life are all priorities.
We operate a number of Japanese language schools in Hanoi open to Vietnamese citizens, helping improve communication skills and creating a knowledge base investors find useful.
We are working hand in hand with investors to increase Japanese language training as a way of attracting even more Japanese investors.
Reporter: Support industry businesses often base themselves in industrial parks (IPs). What can IPs do to lure more Japanese business?
Mr Suzuki: IPs need to consider building ecologically minded cities providing high standards of living to prospective residents. If more and more urban areas meeting international expectations are built, the Japanese business community’s enthusiasm for Vietnamese investments will also intensify.
Reporter: Thank you very much.
Đăng ký: VietNam News
