HÀ NỘI — More and more Japanese companies are eagerly seeking co-operation opportunities in Việt Nam’s agriculture sector and shifting their investments to the country, said a Japanese official.

Hiroshi Chishima, Deputy Chief Representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Hà Nội made the statement during a workshop on opportunities in agriculture and investment cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan, held on Wednesday by JETRO and the International Co-operation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Attending the event were representatives from over 100 Vietnamese enterprises and nearly 20 Japanese firms operating in the areas of agriculture and farm produce processing, as well as agricultural machinery manufacturers who are keen on learning about investment opportunities in Việt Nam.

Before attending the workshop, Chishima said, the Japanese business delegation went on some field trips to Việt Nam’s northern provinces, including a visit to the high-tech agricultural zone in northern Vĩnh Phúc province.

"During their trips, the firms conducted field work at the sites, carried out surveys and collected information to further study Việt Nam’s current agricultural situation," Chishima said.

He added that after the trips, Japanese firms can now carry out a comprehensive assessment of Vietnamese agricultural development.

Most of the enterprises said Vietnamese farming businesses are showing eagerness to develop and co-operate with the Japanese partners, which is a good sign for both sides.

However, most local firms are operating on a small scale and under the form of individual farming households.

Chishima said the Japanese business delegation will continue their field trips at some farming areas in the Central Highlands Lâm Đồng province’s Đà Lạt city on Thursday and Friday to learn about the situation in the central highlands and southern regions.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Director of MARD’s International Cooperation Department Nguyễn Anh Minh said the workshop was a precious platform for co-operation and exchange between Vietnamese and Japanese firms, adding that the number of Vietnamese firms attending the workshop this year increased five-fold compared to last year, which proved that local businesses were really interested in seeking co-operation opportunities with their foreign partners.

Minh said "In recent years, Vietnamese Government was focusing on the development of infrastructure, technology and human resources to promote productivity growth and improve the efficiency of the agricultural sector."

Local firms should seize the opportunity to collaborate with Japanese businesses, learn from their experiences and high-tech farming techniques, develop production bases for material supplies, high-tech farming equipment and agriculture machines provided from their partners, Minh said.

Nguyễn Mạnh Tùng, head of the Hà Nội-based Lĩnh Nam Agricultural Services Cooperative, told the Việt Nam News that his business operates in farm produce, offering fresh vegetable to many supermarkets and food stores in Hà Nội and surrounding areas.

Tùng said the workshop brought about plenty of good chances for his company to seek foreign partner, learn from their advanced techniques and study their modern management model. — VNS