Vietnamese firms seek increased exposure in Japan

The visit’s primary goal is trade promotion, exploring export partnerships, and promoting Vietnamese products in Japan's large yet highly discerning consumer market.

Photo: baodautu.vn

As part of the National Trade Promotion Programme for 2025 and the Vietnam Value Programme for 2025, the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will lead the mission and will also participate in the 2025 World Expo Osaka, which promises to offer significant opportunities to access the lucrative export market.

The event will take place from May 24 to June 1 in Osaka and Tokyo.

Key activities will include the opening of Vietnam National Brand Week, with trade seminars between Vietnamese national brands and their foreign counterparts, along with a Vietnam-Japan business matchmaking event in Osaka.

The trade delegation will also meet with the local Vietnam Trade Office to explore business and investment opportunities in the Kansai and Kanto regions, home to Osaka and Tokyo, respectively.

The visit will focus on a diverse range of industries, such as machinery, agricultural products, furniture, plastics, textiles and footwear, IT and digital transformation, green energy, and many more.

Despite Japan being one of Vietnam's main export markets for many years; growth in trade between the two nations has somewhat slowed in recent years.

According to the former Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, agricultural exports to Japan currently cover just six main product categories, while some of Vietnam's strongest exports, such as rice, tea, and livestock products, have yet to enter or make significant inroads into this market.

The limited export growth is largely due to Japan's stringent food safety and hygiene standards, which Vietnamese businesses find hard to meet.

Last year, Vietnam's exports to Japan approximated $24.6 billion, up 5.6 per cent on-year, The trade balance for 2024 showed a surplus of $3 billion, an increase from the $1.7 billion in 2023, following many years of trade deficits.

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