The Viet Nam Information Technology Outsourcing Alliance and the Japan Information Service Innovation Partners Association sign a MoU in HCM City on October 28. - VNS Photo

According to JASIPA, one of its aims is to seek co-operation opportunities and accelerate business growth for its SME members through offshore partnering and outsourcing.

This objective matches that of the VNITO Alliance, which is promoting business and trade relations for Viet Nam's IT outsourcing companies.

Lam Nguyen Hai Long, president of the VNITO Alliance, said the two sides would focus on three main areas of co-operation: developing necessary systems, enlarging business networks and services of both side's members and promoting trade in Japan and Viet Nam and in other countries; supporting and promoting exchanges in technology, human resources and education; and organise promotional events in both countries and in third countries.

Mai Hoai An, chairman of IMT Solutions and vice president of the VNITO Alliance, said this co-operation would become crucial and beneficial to enterprises on both sides.

"A Vietnamese company going to Japan to market its products or services on its own will have to face more difficulties than when utilising the strength of the alliance, but can enjoy advantages when supported by JASIPA Japan."

During the signing ceremony, a business matching event was organised with more than 20 IT enterprises from the two sides taking part.

The goal of the delegation from Japan was to gain a realistic understanding of the Vietnamese IT market, seek and meet potential partners, promote collaboration and business development.

Most of the companies have not worked with Vietnamese partners before and are looking forward to partnering with them in ITO/BPO and system integration.

According to the Japan Information-Technology Promotion Agency, Viet Nam has been Japan's second largest partner since 2012 and "the most favourable partner" for Japanese companies.

Japan is now one of the primary markets for Viet Nam's ITO industry with hundreds of enterprises mutually engaged, it said.

But the need for co-operation is still huge and yet to be properly exploited, it said.

The search for vendors and customers remains a critical challenge to enterprises on both sides, it said.