Cooperation opportunities with Japan and ASEAN

(GLO)- The conference to connect trade and promote export of goods between Gia Lai enterprises and foreign enterprises took place on the morning of June 5 in Pleiku City.

This event is expected to open up cooperation opportunities between Gia Lai with Japan and ASEAN countries in the fields of high-tech agriculture , agricultural and food processing industry.

The conference was jointly organized by the Department of Industry and Trade, the ASEAN Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center in Japan, and NK Holdings Co., Ltd. Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung attended the conference.

The conference was attended by representatives of the Department of Industry and Trade of Attapeu, Savalan, Savannakhet provinces (Laos); Department of Commerce of Rattanakiri, Kratié, Mondulkiri provinces (Kingdom of Cambodia); Advisor of the Japan National Supermarket Association; a number of business organizations and enterprises of Laos, Cambodia, and Japan; leaders of the Import-Export Department ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ); Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse (Champasak province); Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Cambodia.

Exploit potential, seize opportunities

Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Rah Lan Chung said: In the context of increasingly deep international economic integration, promoting export activities is one of the key factors to improve competitiveness and create growth momentum for the economy. Import and export not only helps diversify the market but also creates opportunities for domestic enterprises to access new technology, techniques and raw materials.

In recent years, Gia Lai has always focused on improving the investment environment, developing sustainable raw material areas and increasing added value in the production-processing-consumption chain. In 2024, the province's total export turnover is estimated to reach 750 million USD, of which coffee is the main product accounting for over 55% of the total export turnover. Gia Lai aims to achieve 850-900 million USD in export turnover in 2025, expanding many new products such as fresh fruit, tapioca starch, wood products and clean pepper.

“To effectively exploit the available potential, promoting trade to international markets, especially the Japanese market, is a strategic direction. The province identifies this as a key, stable and long-term market, suitable for the province's strong products.

Through the conference, businesses will find suitable partners, establish new cooperative relationships, contributing to bringing goods and services of Gia Lai province in particular and Vietnam in general to increasingly reach the international market" - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee emphasized.

Signing of a cooperation agreement on developing clean raw material areas between the Departments of Industry and Trade of the three provinces of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Photo: Huy Toan

Mr. Nguyen Anh Son - Director of the Import-Export Department - assessed: "In the period of 2021-2024, Gia Lai's average annual export turnover increased steadily over the years. In 2020, Gia Lai's exports ranked 50/63 provinces and cities, by 2024 it ranked 40/63 provinces and cities; in the first 4 months of 2025, the province's export scale increased to rank 27/63 provinces and cities.

From the initial results in export activities to the ASEAN and Japanese markets, it can be affirmed that Gia Lai is on the right track in its export development strategy associated with restructuring the agricultural sector and expanding the international market.

According to the Director of the Import-Export Department, Gia Lai needs to focus on developing value-added product groups such as specialty coffee, organic pepper, honey, processed fruits and refined wood products. In particular, increasing the proportion of deeply processed products will contribute to increasing added value, reducing risks from fluctuations in raw material prices and creating a foundation for sustainable development. With ASEAN, it is necessary to continue to take advantage of border gates and neighboring relations; at the same time, invest in logistics infrastructure, improve quarantine capacity and proactively connect directly with importers.

For Japan, it is necessary to promote the development of standard raw material areas, expand deep processing cooperation, improve packaging and labeling quality, and build the province's product brand on international distribution channels. Investing in digital transformation, traceability, and building product stories are also key factors to help Gia Lai goods conquer demanding markets.

“New page” in commodity trading

Mr. Pham Van Binh - Director of the Department of Industry and Trade - said: Gia Lai has a number of prestigious export enterprises in the market such as: Vinh Hiep Company Limited, Hoa Trang Company, Tin Thanh Dat Company, Louis Dreyfus Company Vietnam Trading and Processing Company Limited (FDI enterprise), Hung Son High Technology Joint Stock Company, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company...

In addition to traditional export products, Gia Lai has more than 400 OCOP products bearing the local characteristics, meeting international trade standards, with great export potential such as: coffee, pepper, honey, macadamia nuts, cashew nuts, dried fruits... In which, Phuong Di honey is the first honey product of Vietnam to achieve 5-star OCOP at the national level. Gia Lai's export products are present in more than 60 countries around the world and have penetrated demanding markets such as the US, Europe and Japan.

“However, the proportion of exports to Japan is still quite modest, mainly exporting green coffee, while many potential products such as pepper, cashew nuts, fresh and processed fruits, sweet potatoes, and medicinal herbs have not been strongly exploited. Therefore, with this connection, a new chapter in the cooperative relationship between Gia Lai and Japan and ASEAN countries will be opened,” Mr. Binh emphasized.

Japanese enterprises visit the exhibition area of ​​Vinh Hiep Company Limited. Photo: VT

Mr. Sytho Tholatha - Acting Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Savannakhet province - said: Savannakhet is a major agricultural production center of Laos, with key products such as rice, cassava, sugarcane, bananas, rubber and livestock.

Strengthening logistics cooperation with Gia Lai province will help significantly reduce transportation costs and improve competitiveness in the regional and international markets. Therefore, this is an important opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation between Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Japan, especially in the agricultural sector.

“We appreciate the “Japan-CLV Highland Agri-Connect” initiative as a strategic and timely move. We look forward to working with Vietnamese and Japanese partners to promote organic agriculture and agricultural processing; share knowledge and technology in sustainable agricultural production; build cross-border agricultural value chains; support small and medium enterprises and cooperatives to access export markets,” said Mr. Sytho Tholatha.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Kristina Hagiwara - Chairman of the Board of Directors of NK Holdings Co., Ltd (Japan) informed: Our goal is to develop into a company that plays a role in ensuring food security for the Southeast Asian market in particular and the Asian market in general. However, currently, Vietnam's output is not enough to meet the huge demand of the market.

We will work with the ASEAN Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center in Japan to develop a plan for agricultural product development, cultivation, processing and export, creating a high-quality agricultural product area in the Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia region.

“Our long-term support commitments to businesses in Gia Lai province and provincial governments in Laos and Cambodia will open up opportunities for businesses in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to enter demanding markets such as Japan.

After this conference, we will support some products such as processed coffee, cashew nuts, honey, pepper, macadamia, bananas, mangoes, dried fruits, and medicinal herbs to enter the Japanese market," Ms. Kristina Hagiwara affirmed.

Delegates visit the booth displaying typical products of Gia Lai province. Photo: VT

To ensure quality and technical standards, Mr. Jiro Nagura - Advisor to the Japan National Supermarket Association - said: "Japanese consumers pay great attention to food safety, clean packaging, and clear information about origin. Therefore, small businesses from Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam that want to access the Japanese market must focus on three important things: food safety, clear labels, and sustainable farming methods."

Expressing his desire to develop the relationship to a new level, Mr. Phan Ba ​​Kien - Director of BaKa Company Limited - shared: "Vietnam and Cambodia have many similarities in agricultural production. Therefore, through this conference, I hope to cooperate with the neighboring country to develop the raw material supply chain, cooperate in processing unique products to create a large source of goods to supply the Japanese market.

In fact, to meet Japan's requirements, in addition to ensuring product sources and standards, businesses also hope to receive support to access this most demanding market."

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/co-hoi-hop-tac-voi-nhat-ban-va-asean-post326736.html