Promoting cooperation with Japan’s leading economic center

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang welcomes businesses from Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Ngọc Lien

Over the past 12 years, since Dong Nai and Hyogo established ties through a Joint Declaration in 2013, the Dong Nai province has become a favourable destination for Japanese investors in general and those from Hyogo in particular. During the working session, both sides discussed measures to elevate comprehensive cooperation across economic, service, and tourism areas…..

The investment environment in Dong Nai highly appreciated

Hyogo Prefecture is recognized as a major economic center of Japan, with strengths in advanced industries such as aerospace, robotics, healthcare, environment and energy, seaports, services and tourism.

In recent years, Dong Nai has attracted numerous Japanese enterprises to invest and engage in production and business activities. Alongside existing investors, numerous delegations from Japan, including those from Hyogo Prefecture, have visited to explore the local investment climate.

Hattori Yohei, Vice Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, said Dong Nai has emerged as an appealing destination not only for Hyogo businesses but also for Japanese firms in general. With the development of multiple industrial parks and strong support policies from provincial leaders, investors have found favourable conditions to operate in Dong Nai, thereby increasing its attractiveness.

Japan currently ranks third among foreign investors in Dong Nai with 288 projects worth 5.88 billion USD, including seven businesses from Hyogo.

Vice Governor Hattori Yohei appreciated Dong Nai's consistent support for Hyogo enterprises and expressed hope for continued assistance, which would enable smooth operations and sustainable growth in the coming period.

He also noted that the Long Thanh International Airport, scheduled to be operational in 2026, is a strategic project that will enhance transport connectivity and drive economic growth in southern Vietnam. This development, he stressed, is prompting more Japanese firms to consider investment in Dong Nai.

Attending the meeting, Ono Masuo, Japanese Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, highlighted that since the signing of the Joint Declaration in 2013, Dong Nai has attracted a significant number of Japanese investors, including those from Hyogo.

He expressed his expectation that Dong Nai will continue to support Japanese enterprises. Following the recent administrative merger, Japan hopes the “new Dong Nai” will grow even stronger, while Hyogo–Dong Nai relations will become increasingly close. The Consul General added that Kobe International Airport in Hyogo has recently opened international flights. Once Long Thanh International Airport becomes operational, he hoped there would be direct flights between the two localities. At that time, the cooperation activities between the two provinces were further promoted.

Meeting the demand for skilled human resources

As demand for skilled labour in foreign-invested enterprises rises, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Vu Quynh, Vice Rector of Lac Hong University (Bien Hoa City), said Dong Nai is home to five universities whose graduates mainly work within the province. Many graduates from Lac Hong University have joined Japanese enterprises operating in the local area.

According to Nguyen Vu Quynh, amid the increasing demand for human resources at Japanese enterprises, the university has recently launched a new major designed to directly supply graduates to Japanese companies..

Currently, Lac Hong University has implemented over 500 technology transfer projects for Japanese enterprises, which have helped improve production processes. In recent times, Japan has provided substantial support to Dong Nai, as well as to the province's universities in training high-quality human resources. Dr. Quynh expressed hope that this cooperation will be strengthened, adding that the university is ready to provide high-quality human resources for Japanese investors in the province.

Provincial Party Committee member and Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang stressed that following the administrative merger, Dong Nai has gained more room for development in both industry and agriculture. The province is Vietnam’s hub for livestock farming and rubber cultivation. It is revising its Net Zero Project in line with new requirements. Dong Nai is also implementing programmes to attract investment in the livestock sector.

She affirmed that Dong Nai, in a spirit of sincere cooperation, is committed to creating the most favourable conditions in terms of mechanisms, policies, investment environment, administrative procedures and workforce support, in order to enable Hyogo enterprises to invest effectively and achieve sustainable development in the province.

By: Ngoc Lien
Translated by: My Le - Thu Ha