PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc hasa round-table talk with Japan’s leading corporations on July 1.

He had a round-table talk with Japan’s leading corporations in the fields offinance, energy, construction, manufacturing, logistics and high technology inTokyo on July 1.

PM Phuc told participant about several free trade deals Vietnam has engaged inlike the freshly signed EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), saying Vietnamwill strive to accelerate the signing of the Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) in 2019.

So, investing in Vietnam would allow Japanese firms to expand their market notonly in the ASEAN region but also in the EU, he said.

Japanese investors, comprising Toyota, Canon, TEPCON, Yusen Logistics, Sojitz,and JXTG, showed their interest in developing support industries for the automobilemanufacturing in Vietnam, expecting to help boost local content in the field.

They spoke highly of Vietnamese Government’s efforts to remove bottlenecks forthe enterprises, suggesting more attention be paid to the training of designand maintenance engineers for FDI companies.

Besides, the Japanese sides said that Vietnamese Government should focus on developinginfrastructure, particularly a comprehensive transport system which is wellconnected to ports in big cities.

In this regard, PM Phuc hoped Japanese companies will continue their officialdevelopment assistance (ODA) in infrastructure development, a prioritised fieldof Vietnam.

According to Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Vietnam hashuge demand for infrastructure construction, a major breakthrough in thecountry’s development strategy. Vietnam is mobilising capital forinfrastructure development from state budget, public-private partnership, andODA. Therefore, the country wants to have regular dialogues with foreign investorswho are interested in the sector.

For his part, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dungrecommended Japanese firms join in vocational training in Vietnam so that theycan recruit suitable employees for their business.

PM Phuc hosts a reception for President and CEO of MUFG Bank Kanetsugu Mike.

Earlier on the day, PM Phuc hosted a reception for President and CEO of MUFGBank Kanetsugu Mike, during which he lauded the bank for its practicalcontributions to the sound relations between the two countries.

He asked MUFG to match prestigious enterprises with the Vietnamese market’sneeds, hoping to receive the bank’s support to develop Vietinbank into aninternational-standard bank, to realize the country’s strategy to branch outthe banking system.

Kanetsugu Mike, for his part, stressed regular dialogues with businesses areimportant for Japanese firms, expressing his hope that MUFG will work to help Vietnameseauthorities and Japanese investors get connected.-VNA