In fact, Lao Cai has long cooperated with Japanese partners through ODA and NGO programs and projects. However, Lao Cai has not yet attracted large FDI projects from Japan. This shows that the province's potential and advantages have not yet reached Japanese businesses and investors. Currently, Japan plays a key role in global economic, political , and strategic fields with strengths in high-tech industry, high-tech agriculture, tourism, and trade. These are sectors and fields where Japan has experience and strengths, while Lao Cai has the need and potential for cooperation.
With a proactive and open-minded spirit, Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, shared that Lao Cai's decision to travel all the way to Japan to organize this seminar aimed to bring Lao Cai closer to Japanese businesses. Based on this, they hoped to share, cooperate, and together transform potential, strengths, and ideas into reality, helping Lao Cai develop rapidly, sustainably, and sustainably in the future.
Lao Cai province introduced its potential and advantages, and shared mechanisms and policies for Japanese businesses and organizations to consider cooperating in: tourism development, cultural exchange, organizing festivals and events; investing in the construction of logistics centers serving import-export businesses; developing industry, supporting industries, processing and manufacturing industries applying high technology, and exploiting and processing minerals; applying science and technology and modern techniques to the production, processing, and consumption of agricultural products for export; labor - vocational training, and sending Vietnamese workers to Japan.
Notably, the workshop concluded with the signing of five Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), including: a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Bao Thang Biomass Power Plant project (Lao Cai) between the Department of Planning and Investment of Lao Cai province and Erex Co., Ltd., Japan; a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation between the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai province and the Vietnam Airlines branch in Japan; a Memorandum of Understanding on receiving Lao Cai (Vietnam) workers to work in Japan between the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Lao Cai province and Happy Life Corporation, Japan; a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in receiving skilled trainees between Lao Cai College and Tsukuba Kogyo Corporation, Japan; and a Memorandum of Understanding on the transfer of mushroom cultivation technology and techniques between the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lao Cai province and OGAWA KINOKOEN Corporation, Japan.
According to the Department of Planning and Investment's assessment, the Investment and Tourism Promotion Workshop in Japan achieved its set objectives. Based on the signed memoranda of understanding, the provincial departments will soon develop specific plans for practical implementation.
Providing support, coordination, and the most favorable conditions for investors.
- Comrade PHAN TRUNG BÁ , Director of the Department of Planning and Investment
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the implementation of the Bao Thang Biomass Power Plant project (Lao Cai) between the Department of Planning and Investment of Lao Cai province and EREX Corporation (Japan) was one of five MOUs signed at the workshop. Notably, after working with EREX Corporation in Tokyo (Japan), the Chairman of EREX Corporation expressed strong agreement and promised to include the project in Lao Cai on the list of top investment priorities.
In 2023, Lao Cai province had approximately 90,000 hectares of production forest, projected to stabilize at around 110,000 hectares by 2030. Each year, 6,000-7,000 hectares are harvested, yielding 450,000-500,000 m³ of round timber and 500,000 ster of firewood, equivalent to 150,000 tons. After processing, the round timber produces approximately 150,000 ster of bark, scraps, etc., equivalent to 45,000 tons. Additionally, approximately 150,000-200,000 tons of cinnamon branches and leaves are harvested annually, with 70% used for fuel in essential oil distillation furnaces, leaving a surplus of about 50,000 tons. Thus, the total amount of forestry by-products that can be collected for the production of charcoal pellets or biomass electricity is 245,000 tons, with a maximum procurement capacity of 60-70%, equivalent to 140,000-150,000 tons.
The Bảo Thắng Biomass Power Plant project, researched and invested in by EREX Group, will bring many benefits once it becomes operational. Firstly, utilizing waste products from forestry production and processing as fuel for electricity generation will help reduce environmental waste. By employing modern and efficient technologies, the process of handling biomass energy sources will release fewer greenhouse gases and significantly address the amount of waste from forestry production in the province, contributing to environmental protection.
Furthermore, by utilizing biomass energy, the project contributes to diversifying power sources in the province, gradually reducing dependence on traditional power sources that affect river and stream flows and cause ecological imbalance.
The plant will contribute a significant amount of power to the province's electricity system, helping to ensure the balance of electricity and power supply for the province and the region.
The construction of the plant also signifies the development and expansion of infrastructure such as the power grid and transportation, helping to improve the lives of people in Lao Cai province and the surrounding areas, and promoting the industrialization and modernization of the province. Once operational, the plant will also contribute significantly to the provincial budget, attract and create more jobs for local workers, and boost the socio-economic development of the province.
The Bao Thang biomass power plant (Lao Cai) has a capacity of 50 MW, with a total estimated investment of VND 2,629 billion (equivalent to USD 115 million), located at Lot CN5, Tang Loong Industrial Park, Bao Thang district, Lao Cai province.
Based on the memorandum of understanding, the Department of Planning and Investment immediately began implementing the contents. Specifically, the Department of Planning and Investment committed to supporting, coordinating with, and facilitating the investor throughout the project implementation process. It also directed relevant departments and divisions to assist and cooperate with the investor in researching and carrying out the necessary procedures for project investment.
Within its authority and in accordance with Vietnamese law and other relevant regulations, the Department of Planning and Investment will create favorable conditions for investors, including: closely coordinating and supporting investors during the survey, pre-feasibility study/investment policy phase and the implementation of investment preparation procedures for the project; coordinating with relevant agencies and localities to provide relevant information, arranging meetings, on-site surveys, guidance and support when requested by investors; applying the highest investment incentives and support policies for the project (if any).
At the same time, investors are requested to be responsible for carrying out the following tasks: making maximum efforts to complete the research and surveys of the projects as soon as possible; fully fulfilling the responsibilities and obligations of investors as prescribed by law; proactively preparing proposals for investment policies for the projects; making maximum efforts to implement the projects ensuring progress and quality according to the approved investment policy in the event that they are selected as the investor to implement the project according to the law; the costs of implementing the above-mentioned contents shall be from the investor's own funds and the State shall not be required to reimburse them under any circumstances.
Assigning staff to receive the technology transfer for mushroom production.
- Comrade DO VAN DUY , Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
The memorandum of understanding on the transfer of mushroom cultivation technology and techniques between the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Lao Cai province and OGAWA KINOKOEN Co., Ltd. (Japan) clearly states that OGAWA KINOKOEN Co., Ltd. can transfer mushroom cultivation technology and techniques, market the products, and train workers in the mushroom production industry for Lao Cai province.
There are approximately 2,000 species of mushrooms worldwide, of which about 80 are edible and successfully cultivated, such as button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, etc., and mushrooms used in the medicinal field such as reishi mushrooms, Poria cocos, lion's mane mushrooms, etc. More than 100 countries and territories cultivate mushrooms; world mushroom production reaches about 25 million tons/year, with an average growth rate of 7-10%/year. The leading mushroom-producing countries in the world are China, Japan, South Korea, and Canada.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan affirmed: Mushrooms are classified as a superfood of the future due to their high nutritional value, and are also excellent medicinal herbs for health and are being researched for use in cosmetic production. If we know how to take advantage of domestic resources, we can create an industry that can generate livelihoods and jobs for many people.
Lao Cai's agricultural economy is relatively developed, providing abundant and diverse raw materials (straw, corn stalks, wood, etc.) for mushroom cultivation. In recent years, many effective mushroom production and business models at the household, cooperative, and group levels have been involved in mushroom production. However, mushroom production technology remains manual and semi-industrial. New varieties mainly focus on four types: oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, and button mushrooms, while other types have not yet truly developed. Therefore, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on the transfer of mushroom cultivation technology and techniques from Japan is of great importance, helping the province's agricultural sector access a country with world-leading technology in mushroom production, creating a new and valuable industry, and providing employment and income for workers.
To expedite the implementation of the memorandum of understanding, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development held meetings and disseminated the contents to specialized agencies. Simultaneously, it assigned the Provincial Agricultural Seed Center to arrange facilities, review equipment, and assign personnel to receive the technology transfer for the development of the mushroom production industry. The provincial agricultural sector's goal is to focus on developing edible and medicinal mushrooms into a concentrated, industrial-scale commodity production sector, gradually applying high technology; closely linking research, production, preservation, processing, and consumption; creating a mushroom brand domestically and internationally; contributing to job creation, environmental protection, and the restructuring of the agricultural and rural economy; and creating a large source of high-value goods to meet domestic consumption and export demands.
Develop a cooperation plan in the field of labor and vocational training.
- Comrade NGUYEN THI HAI ANH , Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs
The Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Lao Cai province and HAPPYLIFE CORPORATION (Japan) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on receiving workers from Lao Cai (Vietnam) to work in Japan.
Sending workers to Japan is a form of sending workers to Japan under a program signed between the Governments of Vietnam and Japan. Workers going to Japan legally must go through one of two managing agencies: the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs or a sending company.
On April 23, 2024, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Lao Cai province signed a memorandum of understanding with HAPPYLIFE CORPORATION of Japan, outlining terms related to the recruitment and dispatch of Vietnamese workers to Japan.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on receiving workers from Lao Cai to work in Japan is of great significance. It aims to train a generation of skilled young people in manufacturing, processing, and fabrication; with a professional work ethic and foreign language proficiency. Workers can accumulate a certain amount of capital to establish their own businesses in their locality after their internship in Japan. Upon returning to Vietnam, these workers will have the opportunity to work in Japanese companies and factories in Vietnam, further developing the knowledge and skills they acquired in Japan and building their careers, contributing to poverty reduction and social security. These workers, by fully utilizing this opportunity, will become ambassadors and bridges connecting small and medium-sized enterprises and large Japanese corporations to continue investing in Vietnam, leading to the transfer of production technology to Vietnam in general and Lao Cai in particular.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on sending workers from Lao Cai province to work in Japan will open up many new job opportunities for the province's workers, contributing to the connection between labor and training, and between the domestic labor market and the Japanese labor market. It will also be a driving force to promote exchange and cooperation, especially in the fields of labor cooperation, vocational training, and technology transfer between Lao Cai and Japan.
To expedite the implementation of the memorandum of understanding, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has developed a cooperation plan with Japan in the fields of labor, vocational training, and technology transfer in vocational education and employment.
In coordination with the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant departments and agencies, advise the Provincial People's Committee to continue strengthening connections and exchanges to seek cooperation opportunities with Nagano and Shizuoka provinces of Japan to send workers there; strengthen exchanges to promote the establishment of friendly cooperative relations between the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and dispatching companies to send workers to work in the two aforementioned provinces.
Both sides also established focal agencies for implementation. On the Lao Cai Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs side, this includes the Department of Labor - Wages - Social Insurance and the Provincial Employment Service Center; on the Japanese side, it is HAPPYLIFE CORPORATION Joint Stock Company.
Both sides agreed to share and publicly disclose information about organizations authorized to send or receive skilled trainees to work in Japan. They also committed to coordinating management and supervision to remove from the skilled trainee program any organizations that violate the laws of both countries and the regulations outlined in the memorandum of cooperation.
Implementing three key areas of cooperation.
- Comrade Lai Vu Hiep , Deputy Director of the Lao Cai Department of Tourism
The Department of Tourism of Lao Cai province and Vietnam Airlines in Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation with the goal of strengthening cooperation activities, promoting and expanding the tourism market, and attracting more international Japanese tourists to Lao Cai.
Vietnam Airlines currently operates a total of 100 routes connecting 21 domestic and 30 international destinations with the world's most advanced aircraft. For the Japanese market, Vietnam Airlines operates direct flights from five airports: Narita, Haneda, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and from Narita to Da Nang, making it the airline with the highest frequency of flights between Japan and Vietnam. Notably, Vietnam Airlines is also a key partner of Japanese travel companies.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation between the Lao Cai Department of Tourism and Vietnam Airlines in Japan is an opportunity for Lao Cai tourism to enter the Japanese market through Vietnam Airlines' communication, promotion, and networking system, thereby gaining access to Japanese travel companies.
In fact, the Japanese tourist market is considered very promising, with high spending potential. However, in 2023, only 2,435 Japanese tourists visited Lao Cai, and in the first quarter of 2024, there were only 475. This is a very modest number compared to Lao Cai's tourism potential.
Therefore, the early implementation of the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation with Vietnam Airlines in Japan is extremely necessary. Currently, the Lao Cai Department of Tourism has developed and issued a plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation with Vietnam Airlines in Japan.
Accordingly, the Department of Tourism has established and implemented three key areas of focus. These are: cooperation in communication, promotion, and tourism and aviation promotion. The Lao Cai Department of Tourism will provide Vietnam Airlines in Japan with information, images, and video clips about the province for promotion in publications, media channels, and advertising of Vietnam Airlines in Japan. It will also support the advertising of Vietnam Airlines' products and services on the province's tourism websites, the websites of relevant departments and agencies, and at diplomatic events, investment promotion, trade, and tourism events organized by the province both domestically and internationally, as well as at some important provincial festivals. Furthermore, it will connect with and support the advertising of Vietnam Airlines' products and services on Lao Cai Provincial Radio and Television; and provide Vietnam Airlines with some outdoor advertising space (on some large tourism billboards in the province). Collaborate with Vietnam Airlines in Japan to organize investment and trade promotion activities, and market promotion for tourism and aviation in Lao Cai and Japan.
Coordinate research and development of tourism products and destinations. The Department of Tourism will coordinate the organization of Famtrip delegations including representatives from travel agencies, Japanese press trips, local media agencies, and major travel and tourism service businesses to survey, exchange, cooperate, and participate in events organized in Lao Cai province by Vietnam Airlines in Japan. It will also cooperate with Vietnam Airlines in Japan to organize national and regional educational, cultural, sports, and tourism events. Furthermore, it will introduce the province's distinctive products and provide a list of key suppliers for Vietnam Airlines in Japan to explore potential cooperation and promotion opportunities.
Coordinate the organization of national and regional-level foreign affairs, education, culture, sports, and tourism events. The Department of Tourism proactively exchanges information and invites Vietnam Airlines in Japan to participate in events and activities promoting culture, sports, and tourism in Lao Cai province. Cooperate with Vietnam Airlines in Japan to organize cultural, sports, tourism, culinary, and festival exchange activities and events in Lao Cai province.
Emphasis is placed on parallel training in vocational skills and Japanese language.
- Comrade PHAM DUC BINH , Vice Principal of Lao Cai College
The Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in receiving skilled trainees between Lao Cai College and TSUKUBA KOGYO Co., Ltd. (Japan) is one of the main contents in the province's overall development strategy, aiming to strengthen international cooperation between Lao Cai province and companies in Japan, and at the same time concretize the goal of improving the quality of vocational education in the province in the period 2021 - 2025.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in receiving skilled trainees between Lao Cai College and TSUKUBA KOGYO Co., Ltd. (Japan) is of significant importance, contributing to improving the quality of vocational training and increasing the rate of employment for trainees after graduation. For students in the mechanical engineering field, the college will have the opportunity to work in a disciplined and professional environment, acquire new knowledge in Japan, and upon returning, continue to contribute to the development of their homeland.
Currently, Lao Cai College is focusing on developing a plan and content for cooperation in receiving skilled trainees between the college and TSUKUBA KOGYO Co., Ltd. (Japan), to be submitted to the Provincial People's Committee for consideration and approval. To ensure the effectiveness of this international cooperation program, the college will prioritize parallel training in vocational skills and Japanese language, aiming to provide students with the necessary qualifications to work in Japan.
In the journey to build Lao Cai College into a high-quality institution by 2025, promoting international cooperation programs through training, professional development of teachers, and enhancing vocational skills for students is one of the school's key tasks.
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