The Vietnam Information Technology Association in Kyushu (VITAK) made its debut at a ceremony at the Vietnamese Consulate General's headquarters in Fukuoka, Japan, on May 20.

The association is expected to become a bridge to promote collaboration between IT businesses of Vietnam and Japan, initially focusing on the Kyushu region.

VITAK is a professional social organisation representing businesses and organisations operating in Vietnam's software and IT service industry in Kyushu. It is expected to strengthen cooperation and mutual support among its members, thus further promoting the development of Vietnam's software industry and IT services, initially in Kyushu, and eventually expanding to all areas in the country.

Addressing the event, VITAK President Ngo Thu Huyen affirmed the association will focus on substantive activities, towards contributing as much as possible to the cooperation and development in the IT industry between the two countries, as well as to Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

Vietnamese Consul General in Japan Vu Chi Mai emphasised that there is high demand for IT development in Japan in general, and in Kyushu in particular, but there is a shortage of qualified engineers to meet the job requirements.

Vietnam has certain strengths in this field, with many Vietnamese IT corporations and enterprises having affirmed their solid position in the Japanese market and possessing a plentiful supply of high-quality human resources, she said.

Positioned as one of Japan's development centre, Fukuoka prefecture is implementing many important economic policies such as building a smart city and developing digital infrastructure (both software and hardware), aiming to turn Fukuoka into an "international city", where many foreigners come to live, study, and work, Mai said.

The locality has also promoted the semiconductor industry, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and hydrogen technology, among others, providing a great opportunity for Vietnamese IT enterprises to leverage their strengths, fully tap the potential for cooperation, and play a more active role in the socio-economic development programme of Fukuoka prefecture and the Kyushu region, she went on.

The Consulate General will accompany and support the association's activities, particularly in introducing and connecting agencies, organisations, businesses, and localities in Vietnam and Japan, helping it operate practically and effectively, she said.