HCMC – Governor Kuroiwa Yuji of Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, visited HCMC on November 13 to attend the first Kanagawa Investment Seminar, part of the 5th Kanagawa Festival in Vietnam.
The visit marks a key moment in the first year of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Japan, reflecting Kanagawa’s dedication to deepening ties with HCMC in particular and Vietnam in general.
During the event, HCMC’s Vice Chairman Vo Van Hoan thanked Kanagawa for hosting the seminar in HCMC, showing the commitment to strengthen the relationship between Kanagawa and HCMC, as well as Japan-Vietnam ties overall.
Ono Masuo, Japan’s consul general in HCMC, highlighted Vietnam’s rapid economic growth, which makes it an attractive market due to its large population (the third-largest in ASEAN) and growing middle and upper classes.
In an interview with The Saigon Times, Governor Yuji emphasized the long-standing connection between Kanagawa and Vietnam, which began in 2015 through cultural festivals supported by Vietnamese ambassadors to Japan. As Vietnam’s economy grew, Japanese businesses showed increased interest, with Kanagawa offering tax breaks and infrastructure support. So far, 18 Vietnamese IT companies have set up in Kanagawa to meet Japan’s demand for skilled workers.
Governor Yuji also spoke about the seminar’s focus on healthcare innovations, disaster prevention, and creating a digitally enhanced society. He emphasized the workforce exchange between Kanagawa and Vietnam, including initiatives to bring Vietnamese students to work in Kanagawa and offer language training for caregivers under the Japan-Vietnam EPA.
Kanagawa has also provided one-stop support to help 27 Kanagawa businesses invest in Vietnam’s industrial zones over the past decade.
Currently, Japan is HCMC’s third-largest investor. In the first 10 months of 2024, Japanese investments in HCMC totaled over US$113 million in 108 new projects, bringing Japan’s total investment in the city to nearly US$5.9 billion, according to Vo Van Hoan.
