HCM City expands cooperation with Japanese prefecture

Hanoi (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japan’s Nagano prefecture to forge cooperation in industrial production, tourism, agriculture and human resources development, according to Sai Gon Giai phong newspaper.

The MoU was inked by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem and Governor of Nagano prefecture Shuichi Abe, aiming to establish a close friendly relationship based on mutual respect and trust.

During a working session with Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Dinh La Thang in Nagano city on April 10, Shuichi Abe said many businesses in his prefecture want to work with HCM City in the processing industry and hi-tech agriculture after their tour to Vietnam in 2016.

The MoU is expected to boost bilateral ties, he said, adding that he hopes more local companies will invest in HCM City in the aforementioned fields and tourism.

He pledged to create best conditions for Nagano businesses to invest in Vietnam and HCM City.

For his part, Thang said his visit aims to explore cooperation opportunities.

Vietnam’s southern metropolis wants to step up collaboration with Nagano in support industry, education, human resources training, transport and health care, he said, adding that the application of Japanese technologies in Vietnam will help the city address important issues in production development, environmental protection and food safety.

He said Nagano is strong in temperate agricultural products, electronics, information technology, mechanics and tourism. Meanwhile, HCM City boasts potential in tropical agriculture and has big demand to develop Nagao’s fields of strength.

Currently, about 17 Nagano businesses invest in HCM City with total capital of more than 20 million USD, he said, noting that the prefecture’s Hachijuni bank has sent representatives in Vietnam to help Japanese businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian country.

He expressed his belief in an increase in investment from Nagano in HCM City.

Apart from economic partnership, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Nagano are thriving through the 10-year-old Nagano-Vietnam Exchange Association.

The delegation from HCM City also visited Matsumoto and Shiojiri cities in Nagano prefecture to learn about local tourism and hydroponic farming.

Delegates visited Tokyo Keiki company, which specialises in producing hi-tech measurement equipment, and 70 percent of its products are assembled at the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Vietnam.-VNA