Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Mitsuo Sakaba has commented at a recent economic forum that more Japanese businesses would arrive in Vietnam’s central region in the coming time, reasoning favourable conditions offered by the government and regional authorities.

The diplomat made the comment at the Vietnam-Japan Economic Forum jointly held by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Japan-Vietnam Joint Committee in Da Nang city on Aug. 14.

The Ambassador pointed out that the Vietnamese central region would increase its attractiveness to Japanese investors if it provides a developed transport infrastructure.

The President of the Japanese Businesses’ Association in Da Nang, Hideo Hosoya, agreed that Vietnam’s central region is an interesting destination of investment to Japanese businesses.

He especially referred to Da Nang city with a fully-developed basic infrastructure, six industrial zones, deep-sea water ports, an international airport and vocational training centres which are all located within in a radius of 20 km.

The businessperson, however, raised questions about Da Nang’s environmental treatment capacity, the awareness and quality of workers, a lack of supporting industries and higher freight charges, saying those concerned many Japanese investors much.

This Vietnam-Japan economic forum brought together representatives from 210 local and Japanese businesses to discussions on investment environment in the central region and the Vietnam-Japan economic partnership agreement and Japanese businesses’ ability to cooperate and accept supportive products made by Vietnamese factories.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency, Japan is the third largest investor in Vietnam, with 1,110 projects which have registered a total investment capital of 17 billion USD. Of those, 34 projects totalling 180 million USD are located in Da Nang city.

In the first half of this year, Japanese businesses registered nearly 94 million USD in 35 invested projects in the country./.