Japan eyes VN farm partnerships

A Japanese firm introduces their products to their Vietnamese partner.-Photo bizlive.vn

Hiroshi Chishima, Deputy Chief Representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Ha Noi made the statement during a workshop on opportunities in agriculture and investment cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan, held on Wednesday by JETRO and the International Co-operation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Attending the event were representatives from over 100 Vietnamese enterprises and nearly 20 Japanese firms operating in the areas of agriculture and produce processing, as well as agricultural machinery manufacturers who are keen on learning about investment opportunities between the two countries.

Before attending the workshop, Chishima said, the Japanese business delegation went on some field trips to Viet Nam’s northern provinces, including a visit to the high-tech agricultural zone in northern Vinh Phuc province.

"During their trips, the firms conducted field work at the sites, carried out surveys and collected information to further study Viet Nam’s current agricultural situation," Chishima said.

He added that after the trips, Japanese firms can now carry out a comprehensive assessment of Vietnamese agricultural development.

Most of the enterprises said Vietnamese farming businesses are showing eagerness to develop and co-operate with the Japanese partners, which is a good sign for both sides.

However, most local firms are operating on a small scale and under the form of individual farming households.

Chishima said the Japanese business delegation will continue their field trips at some farming areas in the Central Highland Lam Dong province’s Da Lat city on Thursday and Friday to learn about the situation in the central highland and southern regions.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of MARD’s International Cooperation Department Nguyen Anh Minh said the workshop was a precious platform for co-operation and exchange between Vietnamese and Japanese firms, adding that the number of Vietnamese firms attending the workshop this year increased five-fold compared to last year, which proved that local businesses were really interested in seeking co-operation opportunities with their foreign partners.

Minh said: "In recent years, Vietnamese government was focusing on the development of infrastructure, technology and human resources to promote productivity growth and improve the efficiency of the agricultural sector."

Local firms should seize the opportunity to collaborate with Japanese businesses, learn from their experiences and high-tech farming techniques, develop production bases for material supplies, high-tech farming equipment and agriculture machines provided from their partners, Minh said.

Nguyen Manh Tung, Head of the Ha Noi-based Linh Nam Agricultural Services Cooperative, told the Viet Nam News that his business operates in produce, offering fresh vegetable to many supermarkets and food stores in Ha Noi and surrounding areas.

Tùng said the workshop brought about plenty of good chances for his company to seek foreign partner, learn from their advanced techniques and study their modern management model.

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