HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc called for Japanese investments in high technology-based, environment-friendly and human development projects at a working session with 60 Japanese information technology (IT) companies on Tuesday.

Phúc is on a five-day official visit to Japan until Thursday.

Phúc said that Việt Nam would give priority to investments in information infrastructure, digital connectivity, national database system and IT human resource development.

"The 4.0 industrial revolution is changing the face of the world, the way we live, work and grow," Phúc said. “In line with this new trend, Việt Nam is transforming its focus to high value-added sectors, which use advanced technologies and high-quality labour, to drive its economic growth.”

Việt Nam has enormous growth potential in many sectors, including agriculture, IT, tourism and human development, according to the Prime Minister.

IT is booming in Việt Nam. Statistics show that in 2015, Việt Nam was in the top 10 countries of the Asia-Pacific region and top 30 of the world in software outsourcing. In 2016, export values of mobile phones, computers and their parts made in Việt nam touched more than US$55 billion. 

Việt Nam is also among the top ASEAN countries in mobile application with around 60 per cent of the population under 35, and the capacity to learn new technologies easily and 52 per cent using internet.

The country is also planning to become one of the world’s leading software and digital content outsourcing providers with high-quality human resource.

Japanese firms at the working session said that they would hasten efforts to invest in Việt Nam and contribute to promoting the bilateral co-operation between the two countries.

A representative from Japan’s IHI Corporation proposed that Việt Nam should improve its legal framework for public-private partnership (PPP) to create favourable conditions for foreign investors.

A representative from Yamato, which showed intent to invest in delivery service in Việt Nam, said Việt Nam should revise its regulations on capping foreign investments in several sectors, such as transport (which is currently capped at 49 per cent).

Phúc, who was listening to the contributing ideas from the Japanese firms, vowed to create favourable conditions for foreign investors, expressing hope that the Japanese firms would continue to invest in Việt Nam. — VNS