Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam introduces Vietnamese bananas to Japanese reporters at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo

Vietnamese Goods Week in Japan ended on Saturday with Vietnamese bananas finding a foothold in what is often considered a picky market.

During the three-day event, along with lychee and dragon fruit, Vietnamese bananas attracted the attention of Japanese consumers.

Katsuhiko Dan, an office worker in Japan, said: “Vietnamese bananas are delicious. This will be my regular choice.”

Soichi Okazaki, Executive Officer of AEON Co Ltd – the organiser of the Viet Nam Goods Weeks, said Japan is importing bananas from many places such as Ecuador, the Philippines and Taiwan (China), but Vietnamese bananas are delicious and taste better.

He said that the company will focus resources on promoting the import of bananas in the future.

With competitive prices and good quality, Vietnamese bananas can compete with similar products in the Japanese market, according to Okazaki,

He also said AEON is planning to import longan from Viet Nam to sell in its supermarkets in Japan.

The two governments have reached an agreement that Japan will export tangerines to Viet Nam, and vice versa, Viet Nam will sell longan in Japan, Okazaki said, adding that longan and lychees are types of fruits that are easy to eat.

The annual Vietnamese Goods Week is organised by AEON Ltd Co, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan. It aims to raise AEON’s sales of Vietnamese products in Japan to US$1 billion by 2025. Through the event, more than 100 businesses from 21 Vietnamese cities and provinces have introduced their products to Japanese consumers. — VNS