A seminar on industry strategies and developing clusters was held in Hanoi on March 28.

The event, jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Japan Economic Foundation (JEF), offered a chance for participants to discuss issues relating to the development of some potential industries, as well as measures to boost Vietnam’s industrialisation and turn it into an industrialised country by 2020.

Speaking at the seminar, VCCI General Secretary Pham Thi Thu Hang suggested that during the globally economic integration, Vietnam should improve its competitiveness, work out strategies and focus on developing clusters of industries to achieve set targets.

Hang said the Vietnam-Japan economic partnership agreement and joint statements are opportunities for Japan to help Vietnam build an industrialisation strategy.

These documents can also bridge the two countries’ businesses and help Vietnam attract foreign direct investment (FDI). In 2012, Japan remained Vietnam’s largest FDI supplier, in both the number of projects and capital, Hang noted.

Noriyuki Yonemura, JEF Secretary-General, said that Japan has used industry strategies as an important tool of its Government to develop the sector, adding that experiences gained during its industrialisation can help Vietnam boost its own process.

Japan will assist Vietnam in developing support and electronics industries and food processing, he said, expressing his hope that with the development of Vietnam, Japan will find more investment opportunities, thus contributing to intensifying FDI capital in Vietnam .

At the event, participants exchanged views on potential sectors that both countries prioritise, including household electricity, electronic, food processing, shipbuilding, farming machines, environment, energy saving and automobile manufacturing.-VNA