The northern province of Phu Tho hopes Japanese businesses will continue to invest in the Vietnamese locality and commit to create favourable conditions for their operation.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Minh Chau said this at a conference in Tokyo, Japan, on April 12 to promote Japanese investments in Phu Tho.

The event was co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, Japan External Trade Organisation and ASEAN-Japan Centre. More than 50 Japanese businesses and investors participated in the event.

Chau highlighted the province’s advantages, such as its proximity to Ha Noi’s Noi Bai International Airport as well as a modern and synchronous port system and socio-economic infrastructure.

The province has great potential in manufacturing, assembling industry, construction material production, hi-tech agriculture and forestry, he said.

There is also room for tourism development as Phu Tho is home to two world cultural heritage recognised by UNESCO---worshipping of Hung Kings and traditional “xoan” singing, he added.

The chairman said Japanese firms were currently running seven projects in the province worth nearly US$40 million, mainly in the fields of wood processing, garment-textiles and footwear.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong who was also present at the event, relations between Viet Nam and Japan are at their peak and thriving in all spheres, particularly economy, trade and investment.

Apart from large companies, small-and medium-sized enterprises from Japan are increasing investments in Viet Nam, he said, noting that 1,800 Japanese businesses have registered to partake in the Japan Business Association in Viet Nam, making it the largest association of its kind in the world.

The ambassador hoped that the conference would encourage Japanese enterprises to choose Phu Tho as a reliable investment destination. — VNS