As part of their ongoing working trip to Japan, a group of Da Nang’s leaders, led by municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung, on Monday afternoon visited the Kansai Economic Federation (Kankeiren).  Their intention was to appeal for more businesses from the Kansai region of Japan to invest in Da Nang. 

Vice Chairman Dung (left) presenting a momento to Mayor of Sakai City Osami Tekayama

The Da Nang guests were warmly received by Mr Shinya Fujii, the Director-General of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Osaka, and some representatives from Kankeiren.  Also present at the reception was Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka, Tran Duc Binh.

Vice Chairman Dung said that Da Nang has taken the lead in Viet Nam's Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) rankings, the Information Technology Application Readiness Index, and the Provincial Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX) for many consecutive years.  These outstanding achievements have played an important role in attracting businesses to the city from both home and abroad.

He also remarked, “Da Nang is now focusing on perfecting its transport infrastructure, hi-tech and IT systems in order to attract more foreign investors, especially those from Japan”.  Importance is also being attached to constructing new industrial parks on the western side of the city, and developing industrial clusters exclusively for Japanese businesses.  However, the majority of Japanese businesses, including those from the Kansai region, now pour their money into Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai Province and northern localities. 

The Da Nang guests and representatives from the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka

Vice Chairman Dung said that he would like Kankeiren to conduct surveys into Da Nang’s business environment to seek investment opportunities in those aspects which both Da Nang and the Kansai region boast strengths and potential.  Included are IT and hi-tech industries.

Director-General Fujii affirmed that Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, boasts a very good investment environment.  Currently, over 130 businesses from the Kansai region are showing interest in seeking investment opportunities in Da Nang.  In particular, the main concerns they have raised are about the annual growth in the total volume of cargo transported through the Da Nang Port, and the quality of local logistics services, support industries and the international fibre optic cable systems in the city. 

Also on Monday afternoon, during his meeting with Mayor of Sakai City Osami Tekayama, Vice Chairman Dung hoped that bilateral cooperation with Sakai City would be strengthened, especially in educational and cultural exchanges.

He added that the opening of Da Nang-Osaka direct flights in early 2017 will open up a new opportunity for Da Nang to appeal for more businesses from Sakai City, which is located in Osaka Prefecture.  He also hoped that even more favourable conditions would be created for pupils of the 2 localities to partake in bilateral cultural and language exchanges, especially at the Viet Nam-Japan Cultural Exchange Festival 2017.

In reply, Mayor Tekayama pledged that he would encourage more small and medium-sized enterprises from his locality to invest in Da Nang in the years ahead.

Also on Monday, during his reception for the Da Nang guests, Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Tran Duc Binh shared experiences of working closely with the Japanese authorities to appeal for more Japanese investors into Da Nang in such aspects as hi-tech industries, IT, fisheries, education and training. 

In a similar vein, the Da Nang visitors had a working session with Mr Keiichiro Yamaoka, the President of the Heian Jogakuin University in Kyoto which is a private women's college.

President Yamaoka (left) and Vice Chairman Dung

Vice Chairman Dung remarked, “The annual growth of Da Nang’s tourism sector is about 20%.  However, the city’s present number of human resources has yet to satisfy the increasing demand of local tourism”.  He continued, “There are currently 2 Japanese standard pre-schools in Da Nang, namely the Bo Cong Anh, and Viet Nam-Japan”.

The city leader also said that he would like the Heian Jogakuin University to enrol Da Nang’s students onto its training courses on tourism administration and pre-school teaching methods meeting international standards.  He also vowed that the Da Nang authorities would facilitate the Japanese university to conduct its investment activities in the city in the near future.

President Yamaoka said that his university now has 2 campuses, in Kyoto and Osaka cities.  Apart from Japanese students, many students come from other Asian countries to study such majors as international tourism administration and early childhood education.  He proudly said that the majority of the graduates have been employed by large Japanese corporations.  The host also noted that his university would develop new educational establishments in Da Nang in the near future, offering training programmes on tourism administration and pre-school education.