Binh Duong (VNA) –Secretary of the Binh Duong Party Committee Nguyen Van Loi met with JapaneseAmbassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio on March 17, pledging continued support forJapanese investors to reap more successes in the southern province.

Loi said Binh Duong province, amajor industrial hub of Vietnam, has so far attracted nearly 40 billion USD in foreigndirect investment (FDI). Japan currently ranks second among 65 countriesand territories investing in the province, with 328 projects and combined registered capital of 5.77 billion USD. Currently, more than 140 Japanese businesses are investing in Binh Duong, mostly in the fields of electroniccomponent manufacturing, car assembly, steel production, support industries,and trade services.

According to the official, as an economic partner of leadingimportance of Vietnam, Japan ranks first among the ODA suppliers, second amongforeign investors, third among sources of foreign tourists, and fourth amongtrade partners of the Southeast Asian nation. By the end of October 2021, it hadinvested 64 billion USD into over 4,700 projects in Vietnam.

Loi noted Japan has provided considerable ODA capital and experience for BinhDuong to carry out water supply, sewerage, and treatment projects, which havebrought about a better life for local residents.

The province hopes that Japan willpromote ODA provision for the building of key roads such as the one linking itsDi An city and Bau Bang district with Ho Chi Minh City, and for railwayconstruction, he added.

Yamada highlighted hissupport for the transport projects connecting Binh Duong with other southern localities,noting that he backs the supply of Japanese capital for key transport projectslike a metro line expanding the route from Suoi Tien Theme Park in HCM City toBinh Duong New City.

He also highly valued the jointventure between Becamex of Binh Duong and Tokyu of Japan conducting a pre-feasibilitystudy of a specialised railway project traversing Binh Duong.

The diplomat also said he isimpressed with Binh Duong's dynamic development and delighted that Japanese businessesoperating in the province are increasing and expanding their scale.

Binh Duong should step up traininghigh-quality human resources to meet manpower demand of Japanese firmsplanning to invest here, Yamada recommended.

He added Japan hopes in the coming 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties with Vietnam, Binh Duong and Japan will organise severalcultural, musical, and sport exchange events./.