The Seminar on Investment Promotion on supporting industries (SI) was held in the morning 17 November by the provincial People’s Committee (PPC). This activity is in the investment promotion program of the Kawasaki business delegation (Japan) in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province in 2 days 17 and 18 November, led by Mr. Mutaguchi Takehiko, Deputy General Director of the Asian Enterprise Network Promotion Agency.

At the seminar, Mrs. Tran Thi Huong, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade, presented an overview of the Ba Ria - Vung Tau province’s advantages and orientation of the SI development ; Policies and procedures for investment in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Mrs. Tran Thi Huong said, Ba Ria - Vung Tau was one of two locals approved to build a SI development center. Accordingly, the province made plans to build industrial zone specializing in SI, chose Japan as a strategic partner and would create all favorable conditions for Japanese enterprises to invest in this industrial zone.

Dr. Etsujiro Yokota, Professor of Japan Industry University - an expert on manufacturing models - presented the factors associated basic manufacturing industries (manufacture of molds) of Vietnam and Japan. According to Professor Etsujiro Yokota, Vietnam presently cannot compete with other regional countries in the field of manufacturing industries. Therefore, Vietnam needs to quickly associate investment to manufacture better products with a hope to compete with new rivals. Therefore, Vietnam in general and Ba Ria - Vung Tau in particular need to build an industrial zone for basic manufacturing industries; Identify strengths to choose appropriate manufacturing industries. At the same time, have technical training for manufacturing industries with the support on the training program from the Japanese side.

Mr. Mutaguchi Takehiko, Deputy General Director of Asian Enterprise Network Promotion Agency, said after the earthquake and tsunami, Japanese businesses faces many difficulties and mostly tended to expand oversea investment. Asian Enterprise Network Promotion Agency would support Kawasaki’s enterprises to invest in the fields of SI production, especially model manufacture industry in Ba Ria - Vung Tau.

To relieve the concerns of Kawasaki businesses on investment policies of the province, Provincial Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Tuan Minh stated that the Vietnam Government was drafting general policies on investment attraction of SI development. The problem that Ba Ria - Vung Tau most concerned about at the present were how to quickly train skilled workforce to meet the requirements of the Japanese companies. To soon achieve the targets of building specialized SI industrial zones, create favorable conditions for Japanese companies investing in Ba Ria - Vung Tau, the two sides should have a straight discuss at the view of mixing business and learning from experience; cooperation and investment for mutual benefits.