Workers at the Dong Nai-based Japanese-invested Mabuchi Motors Vietnam assemble electric motors. Dong Nai has attracted 15 Japanese-funded projects this year with a total registered capital of US$162 million. — VNA/VNS Photo Danh Lam

DONG NAI (VNS)— The southern province of Dong Nai has attracted 15 Japanese-funded projects with a total registered capital of US$162 million over the first half of this year, according to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.

During the period, the province's Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Zone alone attracted eight projects worth $33 million. Most of them were small and medium-sized projects in the engineering industry.

The latest addition has brought the number of Japanese-invested projects in the province to 132, worth over $2.8 billion, putting Japan third among 36 countries and territories investing in the locality.

The number of Japanese businesses showing interest and operating in Dong Nai has been increasing, the department said.

"We will continue to create all favourable conditions for small- and medium-sized Japanese enterprises to invest to the locality," said Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Dinh Quoc Thai.

While receiving a delegation from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) led by Jin Wakabayashi early last month, the chairman spoke highly of Japanese investors' operations in the province over the past time.

He said that through JICA support, a $35 million project to build an 18-ha workshop area for Japanese businesses in the Nhon Trach 3 Industrial Zone would be implemented soon.

The province has continued to perfect its infrastructure construction, develop support industries as well as better implement support policies for Japanese investors in an attempt to attracting more Japanese investment in the near future. — VNS