Vietnam becomes platform for Japanese companies

Vietnam is becoming a platform for Japanese companies’ activities just like Thailand, affirmed Chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Yasuo Hayashi.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency correspondent to Tokyo during the JETRO’s regular quarterly press conference on March 25, Hayashi said earlier this month, his organisation and the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren) jointly organised a visit to Vietnam for 88 Japanese businessmen to help them explore business opportunities and seek deals with partners in the Southeast Asian country.

“At first, we arranged the visit for only 40 businessmen, but eventually, the number of registered businessmen reached 88. This was the largest business delegation from Japan to Vietnam so far,” Hayashi said, adding that the delegation, including 39 businessmen from small- and medium-sized enterprises, had visited Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Regarding to the business performance of Japanese investors in Vietnam, Chairman Hayashi said that Japanese companies have currently experienced hard time in Vietnam, but he was still optimistic about the country’s business environment.

The JETRO leader said his organisation is considering concrete measures towards helping Vietnam develop supporting industries, including inviting Vietnamese people to Japan to have capacity-building training courses.

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