Vietnam considers Japan its leading partner in foreign direct investment (FDI) and pledges to provide the best environment for Japanese investors.

Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh made the affirmation at the sixth Vietnam-Japan Economic Forum, which took place in Tokyo on November 27.

He said that the forum, jointly held by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan and the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC), is an opportunity for Japanese businesses to speak about their desire to invest in Vietnam .

Vietnam , with 65 million people of working age, provides a safe investment environment for Japanese businesses, he stressed.

Vinh spoke highly of the friendship and long-term economic cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, noting that the two sides have agreed to select five priority sectors for development cooperation, including electricity and electronics, food processing, agricultural machinery, shipbuilding, and environmental and energy-saving industries.

He added that he has high hopes for the development prospect of the support industry as well as public-private partnerships (PPP) with Japanese businesses.

At the forum, Head of the MPI’s Foreign Investment Department Do Nhat Hoang presented Vietnam ’s investment policies to help Japanese businesses better understand the country’s investment environment.

Former Panasonic Vietnam General Director, Mitsuru Okada, who has 20 years experience in business and investment in Vietnam , said that Vietnam is a good partner in the political, economic and cultural spheres for Japan .

According to Okada, the support industry is very necessary for Vietnam and the country sees opportunities to attract Japanese investment in the sector.

During the visit to Japan (from November 24 to December 1), Minister Vinh attended working sessions with leaders of the Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; the Japan Federation of Economic Organisations (Keidanren), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan External Trade Relations Organisation (JETRO).-VNA