HCM CITY — The Việt Nam Information Technology Outsourcing Alliance (VNITO) and the non-profit Japan Information Service Innovation Partners Association (JASIPA) last Friday signed a memorandum of understanding to promote business co-operation and leverage the strengths of both sides for sustainable development of their members.

According to JASIPA, one of its aims is to seek co-operation opportunities and accelerate business growth for its SME members through offshore partnering and outsourcing.

This objective matches that of the VNITO Alliance, which is promoting business and trade relations for Việt Nam’s IT outsourcing companies.

Lâm Nguyễn Hải Long, president of the VNITO Alliance, said the two sides would focus on three main areas of co-operation: developing necessary systems, enlarging business networks and services of both side’s members and promoting trade in Japan and Việt Nam and in other countries; supporting and promoting exchanges in technology, human resources and education; and organise promotional events in both countries and in third countries.

Mai Hoài An, chairman of IMT Solutions and vice president of the VNITO Alliance, said this co-operation would become crucial and beneficial to enterprises on both sides.

“A Vietnamese company going to Japan to market its products or services on its own will have to face more difficulties than when utilising the strength of the alliance, and can enjoy advantages when supported by JASIPA Japan.”

During the signing ceremony, a business matching event was organised with more than 20 IT enterprises from the two sides taking part.

The goal of the delegation from Japan was to gain a realistic understanding of the Vietnamese IT market, seek and meet potential partners, promote collaboration and business development.

Most of the companies have not worked with Vietnamese partners before and are looking forward to partnering with them in ITO/BPO and system integration.

According to the Japan Information-technology Promotion Agency, Việt Nam has been Japan’s second largest partner since 2012 and “the most favorable partner” for Japanese companies.

Japan is now one of the primary markets for Việt Nam’s ITO industry with hundreds of enterprises mutually engaged.

But the need for co-operation is still huge and yet to be properly exploited.

The search for vendors and customers remains a critical challenge to enterprises on both sides. — VNS