Enhancing Vietnam - Japan Business Cooperation

VCCI General Secretary Tran Thi Lan Anh and President of Kanazawa CCI Tateki Ataka 

Recently, at the headquarters of VCCI, VCCI General Secretary Tran Thi Lan Anh had a working session with the delegation from Kanazawa CCI, led by Mr. Tateki Ataka, President of Kanazawa CCI. Speaking at the meeting, she emphasized that Vietnam and Japan share a special friendship, which has been elevated to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. This relationship is built on cultural similarities and political trust, and is also strongly reinforced by close and effective cooperation across all fields, particularly in economics, trade and investment.

Japan is currently Vietnam’s fourth largest trading partner. In 2024, total two-way trade turnover reached US$48.18 billion, a significant increase compared to 2023.

Vietnam’s main export items to Japan include textiles, means of transport and spare parts, machinery and equipment, seafood, and wood products. In return, Vietnam mainly imports machinery, high-tech equipment, electronic components, and various types of iron and steel from Japan to serve domestic industrial production.

In terms of investment, Japan is the second largest foreign direct investor in Vietnam, with more than 5,500 valid projects and a total registered capital of tens of billions of USD. Japanese investors are consistently highly regarded for their reputation, advanced technology and positive contributions to Vietnam’s industrialization and modernization process. Notably, 56.1% of Japanese enterprises in Vietnam plan to expand their business, the highest rate in the ASEAN region, reflecting strong confidence in Vietnam’s investment environment.

According to VCCI General Secretary Tran Thi Lan Anh, while economic relations at the national level have made strong progress, there remains significant potential for cooperation at the local level and between small and medium-sized enterprises. She said that connection activities and trade and investment promotion forums need to be further strengthened in the coming time. She also emphasized the promising opportunities for cooperation in new areas such as digital transformation, green transition, high-tech agriculture and innovation.

“This visit is not only an opportunity to enhance mutual understanding but also helps deepen the cooperative relationship between the two economies, especially as Vietnam and Japan actively promote local-level exchanges and cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises,” she affirmed.

Mr. Tateki Ataka expressed his appreciation for VCCI’s warm welcome, saying that the delegation included many businesses operating in key industries such as precision machinery manufacturing, electronics, traditional textiles and handicrafts. These are areas of strength for both Japan and Vietnam that require close cooperation and development, particularly in the context of promoting supporting industries and enhancing domestic production capacity.

Representatives of both sides also engaged in a constructive exchange, focusing on solutions to promote more practical cooperation between businesses of the two countries.

VCCI affirmed its continued role as a reliable bridge, committed to supporting Kanazawa businesses in exploring the Vietnamese market, connecting with partners, and implementing projects in Vietnam.