The year 2023 marks the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam - Japan diplomatic relations (September 21). During the past years, the relations between the two countries have been strengthening and developing. On that foundation, the friendship and cooperation between Da Nang and Japan has had impressive breakthrough developments in such fields as economics, culture and education.

The Murata Manufacturing Viet Nam Company inaugurates the building G. Photo: M.Q

Attracting many Japanese businesses to invest

As of June 30, 2023, Da Nang had attracted about 239 FDI projects with a total capital of US$1.07 billion.

Deputy Director of the city’s Investment Promotion and Support Agency Le Hoang Phuc said that the Japanese business community has the largest number of projects with the largest total investment capital among the total number of FDI enterprises in Da Nang from 45 countries and territories.

As for the structure of investment fields, there were 180 projects investing in the field of commercial services, information technology, healthcare and education. However, according to the investment capital structure, 65% of the projects was involved in the field of manufacturing and processing industry and 19% in the field of tourism and real estate.

Japanese businesses are operating effectively in Da Nang, positively boosting the city’s socio-economic development, creating jobs for locals and contributing to the local budget revenue.

Many Japanese businesses have prominent positions in several economic sectors of the city.

The ODK Mikazuki Vietnam Co., Ltd. is a typical example in the field of tourism with the largest investment capital of US$167.5 million among all projects invested by Japanese enterprises.

Meanwhile, Mabuchi Motor Da Nang Co., Ltd., Murata Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd., Daiwa Vietnam Co., Ltd., Toyota Okayama Da Nang, and Foster Da Nang are the most outstanding in the field of processing and manufacturing industry.

Currently, the Mabuchi Motor Da Nang has about 4,000 employees. The company specialises in manufacturing small and micro motor products used in common life devices such as cars, fans, washing machines, electric toothbrushes and electric drills.

General Director of the company Nakaya Yoichi said that Da Nang was an ideal investment environment for investors thanks to its favourable geographic position of being located in Central Viet Nam, an abundance of young talents, and convenient transportation infrastructure.

“We established a factory in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park in 2005. Till date, we have always received great support from the municipal government and active understanding and cooperation of people in the area during our company's operations in Da Nang" he added.

Mr. Le Hoang Phuc underlined a must-do for the city to improve open investment policies, and prepare the best infrastructure and human resources to reinforce the economic cooperation relations between Da Nang and Japanese localities.

People-to-people exchanges promote cultural and educational cooperation

Chairman of the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam - Japan Friendship Association Tran Van Nam said that his unit has collaborated with the Consulate General of Japan in Da Nang and related units to organise many meaningful activities to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam - Japan diplomatic relations.

Included are a drawing and writing contest about Japan themed ‘Da Nang pupils join hands to promote the Viet Nam - Japan friendship’, guiding local pupils how to make toys using this Japanese-invested company’s manufactured motors, and a symphony concert performed by artists from the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

The aforementioned activities have attracted a large number of local residents and Japanese expats living and working in the city. This is a happy signal for the city when the relationship between the people of Viet Nam in general, and Da Nang in particular, and Japan is becoming better, Mr. Nam noted.

According to Mr. Nam, Da Nang is also the first locality to pilot the Japanese language teaching at all levels. Currently, 3 primary, 2 junior high schools and 3 senior high schools citywide include Japanese in their curriculum.

Most notably, the University of Da Nang and private universities in the city have had many cooperation programmes in student exchange and human resource training cooperation to send interns to Japan.

In particular, the University of Science and Technology has signed a cooperation agreement with the Fujikin Group to build the Fujikin Da Nang Research and Development Center at a total cost of about US$35 million in the Da Nang High-Tech Park.

It can be affirmed that Da Nang is one of the localities in Viet Nam that has many effective cooperation programmes with Japanese partners, not only in the economic field, but also in cultural exchange and cooperation programmes.

“People-to-people diplomacy plays a very important role in strengthening mutual understanding and promoting friendship and cooperation between the people of Da Nang in particular, and Viet Nam in general and those of Japan, hereby contributing to promoting the strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan to new heights" Mr. Nam emphasised.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG