JICA willing to explore beyond traditional partnerships

The proportion of citizens with higher education increased from 20 per cent in 2008 to 45 per cent in 2022, according to UNESCO. Additionally, the health insurance coverage grew from 57 per cent in 2009 to 93 per cent in 2023, according to the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

Kobayashi Yosuke, chief representative in Vietnam Japan International Cooperation Agency

Vietnam-Japan relations have a long-standing relationship marked by numerous significant milestones. In 2009, the two countries upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership, which was further elevated in 2014 to an extensive strategic partnership and, in 2023, to comprehensive strategic partnership level.

The number of Japanese businesses investing in Vietnam has also increased significantly, from 950 companies in 2008 to 2,400 companies in 2023, while the Japanese population residing in Vietnam grew from just over 7,000 individuals in 2008 to around 19,000 in 2023, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Against this backdrop, cooperation activities in Vietnam from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have undergone substantial changes and developments. One notable achievement from years of close cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese stakeholders was the country’s very first metro line, in Ho Chi Minh City.

In addition to developing new infrastructure, JICA has been implementing a wide range of projects across multiple sectors. In the area of human resource development, the establishment of the Vietnam Japan University in 2014 stands as a symbol of the deep friendship and solidarity between the two nations.

Through joint efforts among various stakeholders, the university now trains over 1,000 students, contributing to Vietnam’s and the global human resource pool. Furthermore, as the number of Vietnamese workers in Japan continues to increase, we are expanding its cooperation to new areas such as protection of the rights of Vietnamese workers coming to Japan.

In the field of business collaboration, over 230 Japanese companies have participated in JICA’s proposal-based programmes with the private sector implemented since 2010.

Additionally, JICA has carried out 15 projects under a private-sector investment finance scheme. These are just a few of the many noteworthy changes and new developments in our work during the last 15 years or so.

As Vietnam, Japan, and the world continue to face unprecedented and complex crises, I believe that it is essential to further encourage new forms of cooperation in alignment with the Japanese government’s policies. Shortly after assuming my post, I visited some project sites in Son La province in the northern mountainous region that frequently suffers from natural disasters.

The visit deepened my understanding of the need to explore forms of cooperation that go beyond traditional frameworks – to safeguard the lives, livelihoods, and dignity of every individual, particularly those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

Our spirit of cooperation, centred on nation-building through human resource development and heart-to-heart partnership, remains steadfast, regardless of how circumstances change or develop.

Currently, over 40 JICA volunteers and nearly 50 long-term experts in various sectors are on the frontline of our cooperation across Vietnam. In addition, Japanese non-governmental organisations, universities, local governments, and others are also engaged in grassroots-level cooperation, making significant contributions to improving the livelihood of many local communities in various areas of Vietnam.

Lastly, circulation is a notable feature of the revised Development Cooperation Charter of Japan as of 2023. JICA aspires to implement cooperation that not only makes meaningful contributions to the socioeconomic development of Vietnam, but also helps address challenges faced by Japan, such as the revitalisation of local regions.

To this end, I will also prioritise facilitation of collaboration and dialogue between a wide array of Vietnamese and Japanese stakeholders.