Nghe An organizes online conference to promote cooperation and development with Gifu (Japan)

Attending at the Nghe An province bridge were comrades: Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, representatives of leaders of departments, branches, sectors, enterprises...

At the Gifu province bridge, Mr. Furuta Hajime - Governor of Gifu province attended and chaired, with the participation of representatives of Japanese government and businesses.

In addition, delegates and guests from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)... also attended online.

Conference scene at Nghe An province bridge. Photo: Pham Bang

NGHE AN ALWAYS CONSIDERS GIFU AS A RELIABLE PARTNER

Speaking at the first session of the conference, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province reviewed the activities that have been actively implemented by Nghe An - Gifu provinces in recent years, aiming to deepen the good relationship, promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest, contributing to fostering the comprehensive strategic friendship between Vietnam and Japan in general, and between Nghe An and Gifu provinces in particular.

The two provinces have organized 5 high-level visits, a number of Gifu business delegations came to explore investment, currently there are 03 Gifu enterprises investing in Nghe An: Nagoya Giken Kogyo - manufacturing auto parts, MLB Tenergy - garment export, Yababashi - stone mining and processing; sending 15 agricultural officers to study in Gifu to apply high-tech agriculture; cooperation between Phan Boi Chau High School and Seki High School; JINO Academy and Vinh University cooperate in Japanese language training...

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung speaks at the first session of the conference. Photo: PB

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province affirmed that in the context of many fluctuations in the world, especially the complicated and unpredictable developments of the Covid-19 pandemic that have deeply affected the cooperation process between the two sides, the online conference is an initiative to connect and review the results of the efforts of the two sides since the establishment of friendly and cooperative relations in 2015, and at the same time build a cooperation plan in the coming time.

Informing the authorities and businesses of Gifu province about the outstanding achievements that Nghe An province has strived to achieve in 2021, comrade Nguyen Duc Trung emphasized that the investment attraction sector has had many changes, the number of projects and newly registered investment capital have increased compared to the same period in 2020. In particular, Nghe An province always pays attention to administrative reform, promotes improvement of the investment and business environment, strongly promotes investment attraction; focuses on supporting and removing difficulties and obstacles for businesses and investors.

The online conference with connecting points in Nghe An province, Gifu province and ministries, branches and international organizations is a connection initiative in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic making direct meetings difficult. Photo: PB

Nghe An province currently has 102 FDI projects with a total registered investment capital of over 2,077 million USD. There are 12 FDI projects of Japanese enterprises with a capital of over 117 million USD; Of which, 03 enterprises of Gifu province invested in Nghe An with a capital of 38.55 million USD. Currently, Japan is supporting the province with 02 ODA projects with a capital equivalent to 196 million USD.

Provincial leaders also frankly pointed out,Cooperation between the two provinces is still quite modest compared to the potential and inherent strengths of the two sides as well as the previous determinations.

“It is forecasted that in the coming time, the Covid-19 epidemic will still have complicated developments. We need to adapt, turn difficulties and challenges into advantages and opportunities; implement cooperation through appropriate, diverse and flexible forms to effectively exploit the huge potential of both sides. In Nghe An's international integration strategy from now until 2030, with a vision to 2050, we always identify Japan as a leading partner and Gifu as a reliable partner,” said Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Duc Trung.

Representatives of leaders of departments and branches attended the conference. Photo: PB

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province also suggested and proposed bilateral cooperation contents, asking Gifu province to introduce businesses to learn about investment, business, and trade exchange in Nghe An, with investment projects with high added value, using modern technology, environmentally friendly; support training of agricultural officials of Nghe An province to improve skills in building and managing chains in agricultural production, knowledge of organizing agricultural production applying high technology, skills in building and promoting products...; Organize Famtrip, Presstrip delegations to survey tourism products and services and participate in cultural and tourism activities and events organized by both sides... In addition, the two sides can exchange cooperation in the fields of labor, education and training, science and technology... to find solutions to promote Nghe An - Gifu cooperation in a practical and effective manner.

WANT TO COOPERATE FOR DEVELOPMENT

Governor of Gifu PrefectureFuruta Hajimespeaking at a government meeting. Screenshot

Also at the conference, on behalf of the Gifu provincial government (Japan),Mr. Furuta Hajime - Governor of Gifu province spoke, mentioning the similarities between Nghe An province - a large province, located in Central Vietnam, blessed by nature with many large forest terrains, many rivers, ... and Gifu, also located in the middle of Japan, with rich nature, which is a premise for the two sides to get closer together.

“At the national level, next year 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Japan-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Strengthening cooperation between the public sector and private enterprises is becoming increasingly important for both Japan and Vietnam, and we hope that the two provinces can cooperate for further development,” Mr. Furuta Hajime affirmed.

Expressing his appreciation for the positive results that Nghe An province has achieved, especially the marked improvement in the investment environment, the head of the Gifu provincial government hopes that after the online conference, more Japanese investors will be invited to explore investment opportunities in Nghe An. Through the conference, the two sides will have practical exchanges and discussions, contributing to promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two provinces, opening up a series of activities in the coming time.

Also on the morning of January 14, Nghe An and Gifu provinces held the second online meeting - meeting with businesses, delving into discussions and discussing potential areas of cooperation of common interest./.