HCM CITY — The Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of HCM City organised a seminar on June 25 on how Vietnamese businesses can export to Japan.

The event provided enterprises with an overview of Japan’s market and practical insights into product development, export orientation, financial procedures, and customs clearance solutions.

Trần Phú Lữ, director of the ITPC, said economic ties between Việt Nam and Japan have grown significantly in recent years, supported by four major free trade agreements.

In 2024 their trade reached US$46.23 billion, an increase of 2.78 per cent year-on-year.

Việt Nam’s exports to Japan totalled US$24.61 billion, with key items being textiles and garments, vehicles and components, machinery and equipment, wood products, furniture, and plastic goods.

For HCM City, Japan is a key partner, particularly in trade, investment, culture, and tourism.

With a population exceeding 120 million and rising demand for imports, Japan is a magnet for Vietnamese exporters.

According to Quyền Thị Thúy Hà, head of the Việt Nam Trade Office in Osaka, Japan is a highly competitive market with strict quality requirements, and Việt Nam currently accounts for only 3.3 per cent of Japan’s imports, meaning there is substantial scope for growth.

Cultural similarities, close geographical distance and a substantial Vietnamese community there provide advantages for expanding exports, she said.

Japanese consumers prefer high-quality, durable and safe products with clear origins, and though usually loyal to established brands, they are open to trying new items that offer outstanding value, she said.

There is increasing demand for clean and traceable foods, personal care and beauty products, household technology, and goods for the elderly, especially those that are eco-friendly, recyclable and plastic-free she said.

Việt Nam has strong capabilities in several sectors such as textiles and garments, footwear and agriculture, and in 2023 was the second largest supplier of garments and footwear to Japan, with a 17.2 per cent market share, she said.

Japan’s rising demand for safe and organic agricultural produce also creates opportunities for Vietnamese specialities, especially those that are difficult to grow locally, such as coffee, cashew nuts and tropical fruits.

In 2024 Japan’s imports of coffee beans rose by 20.2 per cent while cocoa imports increased by over 115 per cent.

The Trade Office in Osaka will support Vietnamese businesses by connecting them with importers and distributors, providing updates on market policies and promoting Vietnamese goods at major events such as Vietnam Week at AEON supermarkets.

Hà added that to succeed in Japan, businesses must invest seriously in quality, conduct thorough market research, understand local culture, and build long-term relationships with partners.

Yuichiro Shiotani, general director of AEON TOPVALU Việt Nam, said the Japanese retailer values sustainable development and corporate social responsibility.

To become a long-term supplier to AEON’s Japanese market, businesses must meet strict conditions, including at least five years of operation, in-house production facilities and export experience.

Toshihiro Oguma, general director of Mizuho Bank’s HCM City Branch, advised Vietnamese firms to comply with Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act and be mindful of US OFAC rules when handling dollar transactions.

He also emphasised the importance of certificates of origin (C/O) for accessing preferential tariffs and improving competitiveness in the Japanese market.

As part of the seminar, ITPC announced that the 2025 HCM City Festival in Japan will take place on November 1–2 at the Tokyo International Forum, featuring a trade pavilion to showcase high-quality Vietnamese products with export potential to Japan. — VNS