An official from the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) of Ho Chi Minh City has called on Japanese enterprises to pour their investment into the city, especially into trade and services.

Nguyen Anh Ngoc, ITPC Deputy Head, was speaking with about 150 delegates at a seminar jointly organised by HCM City People’s Committee and the ASEAN-Japan Centre, in Tokyo on Sept. 14.

Vietnam ’s largest economic hub, HCM City is dubbed as a city of investment opportunities, Ngoc said, briefing Japanese investors on the city’s strengths and investment incentives.

Ngoc expressed hope that Japan will regain its former position as the third-largest investor in the city, once it recovers from the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Le Huu Quang Huy, Investment Counsellor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan , highlighted HCM City ’s economic, geographic and market scale advantages, saying such advantages have helped the city take the lead nationwide in attracting foreign direct investment.

During the seminar, representatives from relevant HCM City agencies addressed concerns raised by Japanese companies regarding the city’s investment incentives.

During its stay in Japan, the Vietnamese delegation took part in the Vietnamese Festival, to promote HCM City’s image and attract more Japanese tourists to the city./.