Uniqlo plans to expand operations in Vietnam

Noriaki Koyama, group senior executive officer at Fast Retailing, revealed the plans at a reception in Hanoi on July 19 hosted by Nguyen Manh Quyen, deputy head of the Hanoi administration.  

Koyama underscored the importance of personnel training that the group has been running across several countries, including Vietnam, adding that many Vietnamese personnel have recently been recruited and trained by the group in both the country and Japan.

Fast Retailing is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Foreign Trade University and the Vietnam - Japan University as part of efforts to expand training and talent recruitment in Vietnam, he said.

According to the group senior executive officer, Uniqlo has initiated plans to launch a number of new stores throughout the capital, as well as a number of flagship stores next year in order to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan, he said.

Vietnam has developed into a crucial production hub as part of the group's supply chain, he said, noting that Fast Retailing will strive to increase productivity, quality, and production output in the country in the future.

He proposed that municipal authorities assist in connecting the group with potential production facilities in Hanoi, with the ultimate aim of getting further involved in the global supply chain.

In response, Nguyen Manh Quyen, vice chairman of the Hanoi administration, applauded the group’s specific co-operation orientations, saying Uniqlo is a close and reliable brand among Vietnamese consumers.

Quyen agreed with the group senior executive officer's proposals to expand co-operation in training and expanding distribution channels moving forward.

The Vietnamese market boasts advantages in producing garments and textiles, and Hanoi welcomes Uniqlo’s plan to expand operations in the country, including in the capital, he said.