The southern province of Binh Duong has become a “popular destination” for foreign investors, particularly those from Japan, commented Ikuo Mizuki , Japan’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City.

His countryman, Hirota Nakanishi from the Japanese External Trade Organisation (JETRO) agreed with him and added that Binh Duong’s administrative agencies, its infrastructure and the local human resources all meet the strict requirements demanded by foreign investors.

The strong growth of Japanese investment in the province in the recent past indicates that Japanese investors are more than satisfied with the southern economic hub.

Amongst the 1,940 investment projects in Binh Duong, worth a total of 13 billion USD, 150 of them are Japanese, accounting for 1.4 billion USD.

According to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, the investment flow from Japan into the province is still rising, and the projects are getting bigger and bigger.

Noteworthy is the Kubota Vietnam project that manufactures ploughs and combine harvesters. Another remarkable project is Kirin Acecook’s 60 million USD factory that produces fruit juice. It is also the first beverage plant to introduce aseptic technology in Vietnam .

It is a good idea to invest in Binh Duong, said Kirin Acecook’s General Director Munechika Yokomizo, before praising the short time it takes to get licensed in the province.

In an effort to facilitate overseas investors, the Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Hoang Son, said that his province is upgrading its infrastructure, especially in industrial zones as well as reforming its administrative procedures.

Binh Duong attracted more than 2 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year and Son predicted that this year’s figure will be much higher./.