Business

Quality human resources will attract Japan

Vietnam should develop high quality human resources and upgrade infrastructure, especially for industrial, export processing and economic zones to attract Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Vietnam should develop high quality human resources and upgradeinfrastructure, especially for industrial, export processing andeconomic zones to attract Japanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Tanizaki Yashuki emphasised this at a seminar in Hanoi on March 22.

Heaffirmed the Japanese government’s policy of supporting SMEs inpromoting investment in foreign countries to restore production afterthe devastating earthquake and tsunami in March and disperse risks.

Japannow has 220,000 SMEs operating in the manufacturing industry but only2.7 percent of them have invested in foreign countries, the diplomatsaid.

Ambassador Yashuki described Vietnam’s socio-politicalstability, young workforce, investment policy and its strategicpartnership with Japan as attractive factors.

Vietnam has embarked ondeveloping support industries to reduce its dependence on importedinput materials, producing high added-value goods and creating a firmfoundation for the development of other industries.

Meanwhile, Prof.Kenichi Ohno, Director of the Vietnam Development Forum, said Vietnam isfacing tough competition from other countries such as Myanmar,Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and China.

Therefore, he said, Vietnam should focus on specific areas to meet the demand of different businesses.
Heproposed that Vietnam not only offer favourable conditions but alsoimprove infrastructural facilities, such as workshops and services forJapanese SMEs to invest effectively in industrial zones.

Vu DaiThang, Head of the Department for Economic Zones Management under theMinistry of Planning and Investment (MPI), said Vietnam has introducedthe Law on Investment, which shortens the licence approval process.

Investorsin support industries will not only enjoy the exemption of land rental,preferential tax and credit policies but also simplified administrativeprocedures, offered by management boards of industrial, exportprocessing and economic zones under the “one-stop” mechanism, he said.

PrimeMinister Nguyen Tan Dung has instructed MPI to work closely with thenorthern port city of Hai Phong and southern Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinceto set up special industrial zones for Japanese SMEs.

The ministry is drafting policies and mechanisms for industrial zones to promote production in support industries, Thang said.-VNA
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