In opening lecture, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city, Duong Tan Hien emphasized that in the programs of investment promotion in recent years, Vietnam generally and Can Tho in particular, have identified Japan as a key investment partner. It is shown that Japan is one of the leading investors among foreign countries and territories investing most in Vietnam.

The scene of the workshop

As of June 2019, there are 8 out of  83 Japanese- invested projects in Can Tho city with the total of registered investment capital of more than 26,77 million USD, mainly operating in many fields, such as: trading, production, information technology and medical services. The total import and export turnover in 2018 of Japan and Can Tho approximately reached 206, 7 million USD, in which 170, 6 million USD is the export turnover of goods into Japanese market, including rice, aquatic products, garments, feathers, handicrafts and so on, the import one is about 39,1 million USD with pharmaceutical materials and fabrics. In cooperative relationship, Can Tho city issued a joint statement on cooperation with Okayama city and Hyogo province and has currently discussed with Kobe city to unify the cooperation. In addition, the city authorized government established Japan Desk office in Can Tho city and Can Tho Desk’s liaison offices in Osaka and Tokyo to promote the cooperation between Can Tho city and Japan. Especially, Can Tho city built Vietnam - Japan industrial park with an area of 30 ha for Japanese investors. With strong aspects on air, road and waterway transportation infrastructure finished, abundant human resources, young workers with high skills and low labor cost, Can Tho will hope to be the best environment for Japanese enterprises when investing here, especially in high- tech industry, supporting industry, machine manufacturing, processing industry, information technology, health care, education, tourism, logistics and so on. 

Kawaue Junichi, a Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh city speaking at the workshop

At the workshop, the representatives of some Japanese enterprises said that the investment in Can Tho city brought them many positive results. Kamijyo, a representative of Taisho Company (an enterprise investing in Hau Giang Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company) also said that he had many benefits when investing in Can Tho city. The investment environment in the city is good, the human resources trained in Can Tho have high quality, meeting the demands of the producing process of the enterprise. However, in order to strongly attract Japanese companies to invest in Can Tho, the city needs to pay attention to create resident places for foreigners. Health care services, education and other ones as restaurants and entertainment places also need to be considered more. Especially, the city should promote opening more international flight routes in Can Tho International Airport, Can Tho - Japan is an example. Moreover, the city needs to quickly complete Trung Luong - Can Tho high way.

Le Quang Manh, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city, offering gifts to the representatives of the units co- organizations the workshop

Explaining the reasons for investing in Can Tho city, Nakamura, Director of Tri Viet Can Tho Company said that he came to Can Tho in 2007 and had some difficulties with transportation (crossing river by ferry) at first but he saw some positive changes here. The human resources are abundant, the investment costs are competitive, the price to hire land and workers is cheaper than other provinces, the city authorized government is friendly, actively supporting company. Up to now, although there are still some difficulties, for example, there is no Can Tho - Japan flight route, the road moving to Ho Chi Minh city is not really good, before the stable operation, we think that we are right when investing into Can Tho.    

Signing the MoU between the Department of Industry and Trade of the city and ACS Vietnam Trading Co,. Ltd. to co-operate in implementing the program supporting to buy equipment, machinery and agricultural materials which aims to develop high- quality agricultural production.

Currently, Can Tho city has got 8 projects invested from Japan with the total registered investment capital of nearly 206 million USD, operating in the fields of trade, production, information technology and medical services. In 2018, the total export and import turnover between Can Tho and Japan reached over 206 million USD. The workshop has discussion of Can Tho city authorized government, Japanese representative agencies (JETRO, JICA) and enterprises presenting in Can Tho about the potentiality and opportunities as well as challenges when investing in Can Tho. Simultaneously, there are some commitment of the local authorized government for investment enterprises, especially with Japanese investors. The workshop also introduced the potentials, strengths and opportunities for investment cooperation in many fields, in which there are 9 key projects being in the process of calling for investment into Vietnam – Japan Industrial Parks.

In addition, the workshop also have consultations and proposals from Japan External Trade Organization, Japan Business Association, Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japanese enterprises and businessmen. The comments aim to help Can Tho become a reliable and attractive destination for enterprises and international investors. In the workshop, there is also a signing ceremony for cooperation between the Department of Industry and Trade of Can Tho city and Viet Nam ACS Co., Ltd, on implementing the program supporting to buy equipment, machinery, agricultural materials which aims to develop high quality agricultural production and cooperation signing between the Management Board of Export Processing and Industrial Zones of Can Tho city with Takesho Food Company and Ingrediens Inc. to deploy a project on building a food material processing factory in Tra Noc 2 Industrial Park.

Signing MoU between the Management Board of the Export Processing and Industrial Zones of Can Tho city and Takessho Food Company and Ingrediens Inc to deploy a project on building a food material processing factory in Tra Noc 2 Industrial Park

The Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city, Le Quang Manh, said that the workshop has completed all programs suggested. This success brings Can Tho city new opportunities changing aspirations into beliefs, welcoming potential investors to Can Tho city to cooperate in investment and jointly develop sustainably. Can Tho city respects the interest of foreign partners, in which Japan is one of the key ones of the city. The city always finds the success of investors and enterprises as the success of the local authorized government. Can Tho city government commits to Japanese business community and investors that the city will create the most favorable conditions for the enterprises to develop stably and sustainably, create an open investment environment to attract all resources for developing investment, make Can Tho become a reliable and attractive destination for Japanese investors.

Japanese enterprises learn about Can Tho goods introduced at the workshop