Japanese business delegation seeks opportunities

HCM CITY — A delegation of 29 representatives of the Kansai Association of Corporate Executives arrived in HCM City on Wednesday to seek business opportunities, particularly in urban development and human resource training.

The delegation visited the HCM City People's Committee, the University of Economics, the University of Agriculture and Forestry and the HCM City Development and Research Institute.

Prof Nguyen Trong Hoai, head of Development Economics Faculty at the University of Economics, said the GDP growth rate of Viet Nam last year was more than 5 per cent and the country had made progress in reforming both business and education and training.

According to Hoai, promising industries in Viet Nam included retail, textiles, rubber, construction, education, health care, finance and banking.

Nguyen Thi Thu Nga, a lecturer at the University of Economics, added that agriculture was also potentially lucrative to Japanese firms.

She cited favourable weather conditions and a farming population that accounted for 70 per cent of the country's total population.

Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the city People's Committee, said demand for highly qualified human resources was increasing, because the city had invested more in high-tech industries in recent years.

He promised that the city would create favourable conditions for Japanese enterprises

Obayashi Takeo, chairman of the Committee for Promoting Harmonious Co-existence with Other Asian Countries, praised the high potential of the Vietnamese market and said that more Japanese companies would invest here. — VNS