Long An and Japan strengthen bilateral relationship for mutual development

Cultivating friendship

50 years ago, Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations. Since then, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries has grown continuously. Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Provincial People's Council - Nguyen Van Duoc emphasized that Vietnam - Japan is a relationship of trust. Over the past time, Long An and Japan have had many cooperation areas to cultivate friendship and develop economy.

Vietnam - Japan businesses signs a memorandum of understanding at Long An Investment Promotion Conference in Japan on September 8, 2022. Photo: Vo Huy

On the basis of cultivating friendship, Long An and Japan have had many activities of exchanging, market research and investment promotion. Since 2014, the province has organized 6 working groups and 8 workshops of investment promotion in Japan; welcomed more than 20 delegations of Japanese authorities, organizations and businesses to learn about the investment environment and business opportunities such as the delegation of Yokohama Idec Organization; the delegation of Commission on International, Economic Affairs, Port Authority consisting of Yokokaha City Council members; delegation of Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Itochu Corporation; Mitsubishi Corporation; etc.

The beginning of the diplomatic relationship between Long An and localities of Japan is the investment promotion activity with Komaki city, Aichi Prefecture. In May 2017, the province organized a delegation to visit and work with a number of Japanese localities, including Wakayama Prefecture. The provincial delegation visited and surveyed a number of Wakayama research institutes and enterprises, especially in the field of agriculture.

In October 2017, the province coordinated with Wakayama Prefecture to organize a seminar to promote agriculture investment into Long An. After the conference, a number of businesses of the two sides cooperated, typically Chanh Viet Trading and Investment Joint Stock Company (referred to as Chavi, Thanh Loi Commune, Ben Luc District) and Sowa Garden Company.

Japan's support for Long An

Through the Consulate General of Japan in Vietnam, up to now, the Japanese Government has provided aid (under the ODA program) to Long An on 14 projects on rural infrastructure development, social security with a total amount of over 1 million USD.

In which, Tan Thanh district received 4 projects, including: providing ambulances for Huynh Viet Thanh Regional General Clinic (27,869 USD); providing testing equipment and medical waste treatment system for Huynh Viet Thanh Regional General Clinic (61,627 USD); X-ray machine and upgrading lead room for second facility of Tan Thanh District Medical Center (81,872 USD); providing ambulances for Tan Thanh District Health Center (85,653 USD). These medical equipments help the district to better provide health care, improving people's life in the Dong Thap Muoi region of the province.

The provincial delegation visits and attends the Investment Promotion Conference in Japan

In addition, the Japanese Government provided the province with a number of medical equipment projects for Duc Hue, Can Giuoc and Vinh Hung District Medical Centers; traffic bridge; school; irrigation pumping station; etc. The Japan Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City is also one companion in community activities in Long An, building at least 3 bridges in Moc Hoa, Tan Thanh and Duc Hue districts without local counterpart funds.

The province also received 2 Japanese volunteers to work at Long An General Hospital under the Japanese volunteer program of Jica organization. Their main job is to observe the current status of nursing work, to give suggestions and support to overcome limitations; transfer experience in nursing management to the hospital.

In November, 2022, the Department of Health signed a memorandum of understanding with Jica to transfer Judo therapy - improving health care services by non-surgical treatment techniques. Eleven doctors from the Provincial Hospital of Traditional Medicine were transferred techniques by Japanese Judo therapists.

Together developing

Up to now, the province has 142 projects invested by Japanese enterprises with a registered capital of over 892 million USD, ranking 4th in terms of number and investment capital among about 40 countries and territories investing in Long An.

As the world is changing in terms of supply chains, many Japanese enterprises have moved their production bases to Vietnam. Long An has a great potential in industrial economic development and is becoming an attractive place for Japanese enterprises to expand their service, production and business. One of the major projects between Long An and Japan that is being implemented is to manufacture and install specialized cranes between Long An International Port and Mitsui E&S Machinery Factory (a member unit of Mitsui Corporation. - one of the largest corporations in Japan).

Accordingly, Mitsui will provide a total of 24 container cranes. Long An International Port is a key project, a highlight in the province's investment attraction, and is highly evaluated by investment enterprises in the Mekong Delta region.

The provincial delegation visits and attends the Investment Promotion Conference in Japan

Realizing the need to deploy economical and efficient logistics activities of many enterprises, Newland Co. Ltd. (Vietnam), Sojitz Group (Japan), Kokubu Group (Japan) jointly invested capital to establish Newland Viet Nhat Long An Co. Ltd (Tan Duc Industrial Park, Duc Hoa District) with the goal of providing a full range of logistics services for the goods storage industry. The company has just been inaugurated and put into operation with the ability to store up to 39,000 pallets in 4 temperaturezones (environment, cool, cold and frozen).

Accordingly, the company provides all value-added services to customers from logistics to labeling, repacking and packaging services with dedicated spacious open space; transportation solutions by dry, cold containers, which is timely and cost-effective.

In addition, there are many memorandums of understanding and cooperation agreements signed between enterprises of the two countries in the fields of trade, investment, technology, supporting industries, logistics services, agriculture, and human resource training. This proves a new development step in the cooperation relationship between Long An and Japanese partners.

San Ha Company Limited (Ben Luc District) specializes in slaughtering, processing poultry, waterfowl and developing convenience stores to serve the market. San Ha is looking for partners from abroad, especially Japan, in transferring poultry farming technology to invest in factories in the province.

Since Japan is a country with a highly developed economy, possessing the world's leading advanced technology, General Director of San Ha Co. Ltd - Pham Thi Ngoc Ha is looking for a partner from there to provide high-tech poultry farming equipment to improve product quality and safety, create value chain.

Currently, Long An and Ibaraki Province are implementing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of labor dispatch. Since the beginning of 2020, the province has sent over 417 workers to work abroad, of which, 376 workers came to Japan (accounting for over 90%).

The investment environment is increasingly improved, attracting investment with high results, in 2022, Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) of Long An ranks 10th out of 63 provinces and cities in the country. In particular, Long An Provincial Master Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, was approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 686, dated June 13, 2023. Long An is the 10th locality in the country and the first in the southern region to have the provincial planning approved by the Prime Minister.

The achievements and available potentials are the foundation that contributes to promoting the Long An - Japan relationship to further develop in the future, reaching the world level, and bringing mutual benefits./.

By Gia Han - Translated by Q. Thien

Source: https://baolongan.vn/long-an-va-nhat-ban-tang-cuong-moi-quan-he-song-phuong-de-cung-phat-trien-a159929.html