Officials from HCM City and Kanagawa Prefecture attended the 2025 Kanagawa Investment Seminar to promote economic and technological cooperation and business networking between Việt Nam and Japan. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The 2025 Kanagawa Investment Seminar in HCM City has highlighted new opportunities for Vietnamese and Japanese companies, focusing on partnerships in technology and innovation as the city develops into a modern urban and industrial hub. 

Nguyễn Văn Dũng, deputy chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, commended the robust development of the bi-lateral cooperation between Việt Nam and Japan, especially since the two countries upgraded their relations to a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World" in 2023.

Companies from Kanagawa Prefecture – which organises the annual seminar – in Japan are investing in HCM City, while Vietnamese firms are also exploring opportunities to expand into Japan, he said.

Okabe Mitsutoshi Yuji, chief representative of The Japan External Trade Organization in HCM City, said Việt Nam is among the top destinations for Japanese investors and ranks first in Southeast Asia in terms of future investment appeal. 

He noted a growing two-way investment trend, with a number of Vietnamese tech companies opening offices in Japan, particularly in Kanagawa Prefecture.

A notable example is AI firm Solazu Joint Stock Company. 

Over more than a year of operating a branch in Yokohama City in Kanagawa, Solazu has benefited from a supportive investment environment and favourable policies. 

Its AI solutions help clients optimise operations and reduce costs by 30-40 per cent, he said.

Trương Công Luận, Solazu’s CEO, said the company values Kanagawa’s open, cooperative approach and its long-term vision for sustainable development. 

The prefecture offers not only favourable investment conditions but also opportunities for long-term innovation and development, he added.

Kanagawa governor Kuroiwa Yuji said the prefecture is a major industrial and scientific hub near Tokyo and home to more than 40 universities and 55,000 researchers. 

It is home to leading companies such as Nissan and is at the forefront of robotics, satellite technology and innovation. 

Kanagawa also offers attractive investment incentives, including financial support of up to 12 per cent of project value, a 50 per cent reduction in property tax and office rental assistance.

Already over 20 Vietnamese companies have established operations in Kanagawa, demonstrating the potential for tech collaboration in this new phase of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and Japan. — VNS