The Vietnamese Government always highly values the quality and efficiency of Japan’s investment and called on Japanese businesses to increase their investment to develop Vietnam’s supporting industries, affirmed an official of the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).

Addressing the fifth seminar on Vietnam-Japan economic relations in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 5, MPI Deputy Minister Dang Huy Dong said that Japan have recorded many achievements in manufacturing and supporting industries. Meanwhile, Vietnam boasts abundant natural resources and hardworking people to develop these industries.

The combination of the two countries’ advantages would open more opportunities and prospects for developing these industries in Vietnam, Dong said.

He confirmed that Vietnam would apply special preferential policies for Japanese investors, such as building an industrial zone (IZ) for Japanese small and medium-sized enterprises investing in supporting industries, along with exemption from legal service charges and document translation fees when registering to invest in this IZ.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh affirmed that Japan is one of Vietnam’s most important economic partners and Vietnam highlighted the role of Japanese businesses in Vietnam’s socio-economic development and the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership.

President of Japan’s International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC) Ken Matsuzawa shared the same view with Ambassador Binh and took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Government and people for their valuable support to Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims since March 11, considering it a symbol of the two countries’ friendship.

At the seminar, representatives of MPI, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and northern Bac Ninh province and Hai Phong city of Vietnam briefed participants on Vietnam’s investment environment and foreign investment encouragement policy, particularly in supporting industries.

According to MPI, Japan is among the countries with the largest FDI in Vietnam over the past two decades.

By the end of July, 2011, Japan ranked fourth among 93 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 1,560 valid investment projects with a combined registered capital of 21.6 billion USD./.