From July 1, 2025, Vinh Long, Ben Tre and Tra Vinh were merged to form the new Vinh Long province.

At the meeting, Lu Quang Ngoi, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, stated that in the context of deep international integration, Vinh Long seeks to expand cooperation with the Japanese business community through JETRO, with a focus on key priority sectors such as high-tech agriculture and deep processing, supporting industries and manufacturing, renewable energy and logistics infrastructure, human resources training, tourism, and services.

He affirmed his commitment to accompanying Japanese businesses, providing the most favourable conditions, promptly solving any difficulties, and ensuring a transparent, stable, and business-friendly investment environment.

Okabe Mitsutoshi shared that JETRO plans to implement a project to explore the post-merger investment environment in Vietnam’s southern provinces and cities. The project will focus on key aspects such as characteristics, potential, attractiveness, and business opportunities in these localities, particularly changes in overall policies following the mergers, so as to provide updated information for Japanese enterprises interested in exploring investment opportunities in Vietnam.

At the working session, leaders from provincial departments and agencies shared information related to the province’s potential, strengths, and development orientations for the coming period, including policies and planning, infrastructure and logistics, human resources and education, investment climate and incentives, key economic sectors, foreign direct investment (FDI), business support mechanisms, and industrial zones in Vinh Long following the administrative merger.

In the first eight months of 2025, Vinh Long’s exports to Japan fetched US$417.6 million, up 12% year on year. The province currently hosts 176 foreign-invested projects, including 15 with direct investment from Japan worth US$341.58 million in total, making Japan rank 4th in terms of investment capital. These Japanese-invested projects mainly focus on machinery and component manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing.

Since 2020, Vinh Long has sent over 18,000 workers to Japan under labour contract, accounting for 77.2% of the province’s total overseas workforce.

Japanese investors’ confidence in Vietnam increasing: JETRO Vice President

Japanese investors’ confidence in Vietnam has still been increasing despite adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Shigetoshi Aoyama, Executive Vice President of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), has said.