Japanese investors to flock to central region Viet Nam and Da Nang in particular could emerge as huge potential markets for Japanese businesses.   Nam O Bridge project in Da Nang city is upgraded with fund from Japan government. Japanese investment flows are expected to flock to Da Nang and central Viet Nam in coming years. - VNS Photos Cong Thanh The city and the country could witness investment in the fields of hi-tech agriculture, hospitality, human resource training and service, as well as environment, information technology, energy and healthcare for the elderly. This was announced by Noboru Kondo, CEO of Brain Works Group, at the 50th Asia Business Conference in Da Nang on May 26, which attracted the participation of over 200 businesses from Japan and Viet Nam. He said Vietnamese and Japanese businesses should develop a mutual understanding of their lifestyles, cultures and customs to boost co-operation. "Local businesses should take advantage of the know-how of their Japanese partners to produce popular products in Japanese styles, instead of importing them from Japan. However, Da Nang was not yet as known to Japanese investors as HCM City and Ha Noi, so the central city has drawn only modest investment projects from Japan," Kondo said. "Viet Nam and Japan should cooperate in agriculture and its supportive industries – a deficient sector – to boost the industrialisation process in the country. Viet Nam is perceived by Japanese investors as a friendly destination and a gateway to the Mekong region," Kondo added.   Da Nang's Tien Sa Port plays a key role in the East-West Economic Corridor. Good infrastructure is an attraction to investors in Da Nang. Kondo, who has been doing business in Viet Nam for the past 20 years, suggested Da Nang advertise more and build Japanese townships to attract Japanese investors and tourists. He said Japanese investors would find potential industries in Da Nang in fisheries, retail, hi-tech farming, hospitality and the restaurant business. The vice chairman of the central city, Phung Tan Viet, stressed the city would accord top priority and ensure smooth conditions for Japanese investors by providing good infrastructure. "We have considerably developed traffic infrastructure, such as deep sea ports and airports. Some big brand names from Japan, including Mabuchi Motors, Foster Electric, Keiki and Tokai, have invested in the city," Viet said. He said the city, which is situated in central Viet Nam and at the end of East-West Economic Corridors linking Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and Viet Nam, would help boost exports and trade between local manufacturers and regional markets, as well as industrial centres in Binh Dinh, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai. He said the city should also set up a one-stop shop and a Japanese desk to support Japanese investors in Da Nang.   Fishery industry is a potential investment in Da Nang. Japan could co-operate with Da Nang in developing seafood and fishery industry. The city organised an investment promotion week for members of the Japanese Business Association, also called Keidanren, and 120 businesses in Japan last year. According to the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Japanese companies started 176 new projects, of which 40 per cent were in the field of industrial manufacturing, last year. Da Nang has launched a direct flight to Narita, Japan, with seven flights per week, and plans to open a new direct route to Osaka this August. Mai Dang Hieu, vice director of Da Nang's Foreign Affairs Department, said the city has opened a liaison office in Tokyo and Yokohama to provide up-to-date investment and tourism information to Japanese businesses. He said the city also hosted the annual Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Exchange every summer to boost tourism and exchange among Vietnamese and Japanese partners. A survey by JETRO pointed out that 66 per cent of the 458 Japanese firms based in Viet Nam plan to expand their businesses during the next one or two years.   Staffs of a sushi restaurant introduce their Japanese style cuisine at annual Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival in Da Nang. Shoko Chukin Bank from Japan revealed that 40.7 per cent of the 3,750 respondents from various businesses in Japan said they would invest in Viet Nam. According to the latest report, Da Nang has attracted 305 foreign investment projects worth $3.37 billion. Japan ranks fourth among the top investors in Da Nang with over 90 projects worth $500 million, of which 55 projects involve manufacturing, creating 30,000 jobs for the local people. Exports from Japanese enterprises accounted for 37 per cent of the city's total imports, while 30 per cent of the city's industrial production value comes from Japanese FDI projects. Route Inn Group from Japan will develop a coastal resort in Da Nang, the first of its kind in Viet Nam, with total investment of US$18 million. FPT Software Da Nang began its 10,000-Bridge Software Engineer (BrSE) programme in co-operation with Japanese partners. In 2014, Da Nang also included Japanese language education in its curriculum at some high schools and colleges. VNS