Prime Minister proposes AEON Group participate in training human resources for Vietnam

On the morning of May 20, in Hiroshima, Japan, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Akio Yoshida - Executive Chairman of AEON Group and Mr. Hirotaka Hamamoto - Chairman of Mitsui Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company (a member of the joint venture of investors of the Block B - O Mon Gas Project of Vietnam).

AEON continues to invest in Outlet areas in suburban areas

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated AEON's positive and effective contributions to the development of the retail and export sectors in Vietnam. Vietnam has five important fundamental factors that AEON and other investors can expand their investment and business in Vietnam.

Specifically, Vietnam identifies consumption as a growth driver. Vietnam has a market of more than 100 million people, a young population and a rapidly growing middle-class population, striving to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Akio Yoshida - Executive Chairman of AEON Group

Moreover, the Vietnam-Japan relationship is increasingly developing well. Japanese goods are popular with Vietnamese people. Vietnamese goods are abundant, with strengths in food, foodstuffs, textiles, footwear... and are being greened, in line with the general consumption trend of the world .

The head of the Vietnamese Government suggested that AEON Group choose Vietnam as its business base in the world; continue to invest in more shopping centers and outlet areas in suburban areas, combining shopping with entertainment.

At the same time, AEON can invest in building shopping malls not only in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Thua Thien-Hue, Can Tho, Thanh Hoa as at present but also expand to provinces and cities with high per capita income, large population, and service and tourism centers such as: Quang Ninh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Tay Nguyen, Khanh Hoa, An Giang...

In addition, the Prime Minister also asked AEON to increase imports, bringing Vietnamese goods into the global supply chain, especially products in which Vietnam has strengths such as: footwear, seafood, food and foodstuffs.

Vietnam is building brands for its products; investing in synchronous logistics services, creating favorable conditions and reducing costs for products. In particular, the Prime Minister requested AEON Group to grant scholarships to students and participate in training human resources for Vietnam.

Mr. Akio Yoshida, Executive Chairman of AEON Group, said that Vietnam is currently the country where AEON has invested the most in the world, with more than 1.18 billion USD. AEON has opened 6 shopping centers in major provinces and cities of Vietnam.

Agreeing with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's opinions, Mr. Akio Yoshida said that in the coming time, AEON will develop about 20 shopping centers in Vietnam, focusing on supermarket business and entertainment.

In addition, the group also expands the import of Vietnamese goods for distribution at more than 20,000 shopping centers in Japan. AEON will also provide scholarships to support Vietnam in human resource training.

Promoting Block B - O Mon gas exploitation project in June 2023

At the meeting, Mr. Hirotaka Hamamoto, President of Mitsui Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company, said that Mitsui has participated in the Block B - O Mon gas project since the very beginning and has pursued the project for over 20 years.

He asked the Prime Minister of Vietnam to direct the resolution of difficulties to complete negotiations and sign contracts for gas purchase, transportation, and consumption, etc., which, according to the Prime Minister's viewpoint, are "harmonized benefits and shared risks", to promote the Block B gas exploitation project in June 2023.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Hirotaka Hamamoto, Chairman of Mitsui Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Company. Photo: Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed regret that the Block B gas exploitation project has been stalled for many years and welcomed Mitsui for pursuing the project, even when some partners changed their investment direction.

The head of the Vietnamese Government said that this is one of the projects that the Prime Minister has paid attention to, directed strongly, and urged to promote over the past 2 years to completely resolve the problems that have lasted for more than 20 years. However, the implementation by relevant ministries, branches, agencies, and units is still delayed.

Stressing that the problems will definitely be resolved in the near future, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed Mitsui's efforts to push the project to be put into operation in June 2023.

Expressing hope that gas from Block B will soon serve O Mon thermal power plants, the Prime Minister asked Mitsui to continue investing in Vietnam, especially in the field of developing green and clean energy, in line with the world trend and helping Vietnam achieve the goal of reducing emissions to zero by 2050.

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