Vietnamese Government chief receives Japanese corporate executives
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received executives of several major Japanese economic corporations on May 20 in Hiroshima in Japan as part of his attendance at the expanded G7 summit.
At a reception held for Yoshida Akio, representative executive director of AEON Co. Ltd, PM Chinh highly valued the positive and effective contributions made by AEON to the development of retail and export sectors in Vietnam.
He suggested that AEON select the nation as its global business hub and continue investing more in shopping centres and outlet malls located in suburban areas. Furthermore, he incentivized AEON to invest in the construction of shopping centres in more cities and provinces with high average per capita income, a high population density, and high tourism potential like Quang Ninh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, the Central Highlands, Khanh Hoa, and An Giang.
The Vietnamese Government leader suggested that AEON bring more Vietnamese goods to the global supply chain, especially goods considered to be the nation’s strength such as apparel, footwear, aquatic, and agricultural products.
In response, Akio highlighted Vietnam as the largest investment destination for AEON globally, with more than US$1.18 billion invested. AEON has opened six shopping centres in major Vietnamese cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Thua Thien Hue, and more.
Agreeing with PM Chinh’s proposals, Akio affirmed that moving forward AEON will develop roughly 20 shopping centres in the nation, largely focusing on supermarket and entertainment facilities. It will also expand the import of Vietnamese goods for distribution in over 20,000 shopping centres in Japan while offering scholarships to the country for the purpose of human resources training, as proposed by the Vietnamese leader.
The same day saw PM Chinh hold a working session with Prof. Ochi Mitsuo, president of Hiroshima University; Kazuhisa Matsumoko, CEO of Satake Corporation; Yamasaka Tetsuro, chairman of Balcom Corporation; and leaders of seven businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan.
He hailed the initiatives put forth by Hiroshima University and the businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan which aim to enhance co-operation with Vietnam in various areas, especially in agriculture, education and training, human resources development, digital transformation, green transition, climate change adaptation, the knowledge economy, the circular economy, and private hospitals. The PM wished that Hiroshima University would study the establishment of training facilities and branches in the nation.
The Vietnamese cabinet leader asked firms from the central and southern regions of Japan to work closely alongside the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, ministries, and agencies to materialise their plans.
The Vietnamese Government pledged to provide support and creating favourable conditions for Japanese enterprises, particuarly businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan conducting business in Vietnam, he said.
In a separate meeting held with Hamamoto Hirotaka, president & CEO of Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd, PM Chinh hailed the corporation of pursuing the project on natural gas exploitation at Block B for many years, expressing hope that the natural gas from Block B would soon serve Vietnam's O Mon thermal power plants. He suggested that Mitsui continue co-operating with and investing in the Vietnamese market, especially in the development of green and clean energy that align with global trends and contribute to the nation’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Earlier on the evening of May 19, the Vietnamese PM also hosted Fujimoto Masayoshi, CEO of Sojitz Corporation, which has 17 joint ventures in Vietnam and an estimated revenue of roughly US$1 billion.
He hoped that with its strong potential, Sojitz will continue expanding its operations in Vietnam, thereby contributing even more to the socio-economic development, particularly in industrial parks and renewable energy.
PM Chinh asked Sojitz to work closely with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant localities in a bid to address any difficulties and obstacles during the implementation of projects, as well as creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, to join Sojitz's supply chain.