A man shops for Japanese goods at Akuruhi Tower. — VNA/VNS Photo My Phuong

A trade centre displaying domestically-produced, high-quality Japanese goods, opened its doors in HCM City’s District 1 last week.

Up to 90 per cent of goods on sale at the centre – the first of its kind in the country – are produced in Japan. The centre, named Akuruhi Tower, has total investment capital of US$20 million.

Financed by Vi Bien-Akuruhi Trading and Service Company, the 14-story building comprises a restaurant complex, a supermarket, a clothing showroom and an entertainment area.

The centre is expected to offer the most high-grade experiences to customers, from entertainment and catering services to shopping activities, the company said.

It added that vegetables, fruits and seafood on the shelves are purchased at wholesale markets in Japan and transported to Viet Nam by air to ensure their quality.

The Vietnamese market has seen an increasing amount of Japanese goods winning locals’ predilection.

Experts said Vietnamese consumers are ready to spend big on safe and high-quality food, products Japan has strength in. The revenue of safe vegetables sold at Japanese supermarkets in Viet Nam has surged by more than 200 per cent annually in recent years, and it is predicted to keep growing sharply.

According to the Asia-Africa Market Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Japanese products have gained the trust of global consumers, including Vietnamese, because they prioritise human health. Most people feel secure about product quality when they see the words “made in Japan”.

Some analysts also partly attributed the growing presence of Japanese products to thriving economic ties between the two countries.

Last year, two-way trade reached $39.9 billion, up 6 per cent year-on-year with $20.4 billion from Vietnamese exports, up 8.4 per cent, statistics from the MoIT showed.— VNS