Will there be a wave of Vietnamese businesses conquering Japan?

Ho Chi Minh City and Kanagawa province organized the Kanagawa Investment Conference, in which delegates emphasized their hope that Vietnamese businesses would come to Japan to invest.

Kanagawa Investment Conference held in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of November 12 - Photo: THANH HIEP

On the morning of November 12, the Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City organized an investment seminar within the framework of the Kanagawa Festival in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025.

The program gathered many Japanese and Vietnamese businesses that are or are interested in investing between the two countries to attend.

Expectations of Vietnamese enterprises investing in Japan

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung delivered the opening speech of the program - Photo: THANH HIEP

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the workshop, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Van Dung affirmed that Japan is not only an important trade and investment partner, but also a trusted friend, accompanying Vietnam in sustainable development and international integration.

According to Mr. Dung, there is a special friendship between Ho Chi Minh City and Kanagawa province, starting from the cooperation relationship between the city and Yokohama city (capital of Kanagawa) in 2003. During the following two decades, the two sides maintained a close relationship through many cooperation activities in healthcare , human resource training, social welfare, and urban environment.

The Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee affirmed: "Ho Chi Minh City identifies Japan and advanced localities such as Kanagawa as important partners accompanying the city in the process of renewing the growth model, towards a green, sustainable, creative and livable urban area in the Asia region."

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung hopes that the Kanagawa Investment Conference will promote connectivity and enhance two-way investment cooperation.

At the same time, the workshop will present many specific and sustainable cooperation initiatives not only from Kanagawa to Ho Chi Minh City, but also from Ho Chi Minh City enterprises expanding to Kanagawa, forming a cooperation chain based on complementary strengths.

Times have changed

Deputy Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City Furudate Seike speaks at the program - Photo: THANH HIEP

Agreeing with Mr. Dung, Deputy Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City Furudate Seike affirmed that Kanagawa province is always interested in the development of Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City.

He said this concern is not only shown through programs and festivals organized by Kanagawa nationwide, but also through the provincial government sending an official to work in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Deputy Consul General of Japan emphasized: "In recent years, I have always participated in programs and called for investment from Japanese enterprises in Vietnam.

But this year the main purpose of this conference is to call for Vietnamese investment in Japan, especially in Kanagawa. Times have changed and the relationship between the two sides has changed significantly, thanks to the Japan-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Kanagawa Governor Kuroiwa Yuji introduces investment opportunities in the province - Photo: THANH HIEP

For his part, Kanagawa Governor Kuroiwa Yuji also called on Ho Chi Minh City businesses to invest in the province.

Kanagawa, with a population of 9.2 million, is located next to Tokyo and has an economy comparable to Finland or Portugal. It has excellent technical human resources and has many strengths in high-tech fields such as life support robots, aerospace industry, medicine, health care, and tourism, he said.

Regarding preferential policies, Mr. Kuroiwa said that Kanagawa supports investment grants of up to 12% of investment capital, reduces real estate tax by 50% as well as subsidizes office and factory rental for businesses entering Japan for the first time.

The Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture expressed his hope: "In Ho Chi Minh City, we have held economic seminars like today for three consecutive years. Thanks to these activities, more and more promising Vietnamese businesses are coming to Japan and Kanagawa.

In 2015, when we first held the Vietnam Festival in Kanagawa, there was not a single Vietnamese enterprise investing in the province. But now that number has increased to 22 enterprises. I hope that after today's conference, this number will increase even more."

Wave of Vietnamese enterprises conquering the Japanese market

Director of JETRO's Ho Chi Minh City office Takahiro Miki - Photo: THANH HIEP

Sharing at the workshop, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Takahiro Miki revealed a recent emerging trend that more and more Vietnamese companies, especially in the IT field, are coming to conquer the Japanese market.

Especially in Kanagawa province, many Vietnamese IT enterprises have also achieved success in expanding their markets.

In that context, JETRO has organized many seminars and projects to connect Vietnamese universities and young human resources with Japanese enterprises.

"The relationship between Vietnam and Japan is growing deeper and deeper, as equal partners. We hope to build new relationships in the future," Mr. Takahiro affirmed.

NGOC DUC - THANH HIEP

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/se-co-lan-song-doanh-nghiep-viet-nam-chinh-phuc-nhat-ban-20251112165747496.htm