Dong Nai leader holds dialogue with Japanese businesses

Nguyen Kim Long, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai People's Committee, speaks at the dialogue. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

The event was attended by leaders of municipal departments and agencies, representatives of domestic enterprises, Kume Kunihide, Chairman of the Japan Business Association (JBA), and representatives of Japanese companies operating in Dong Nai City.

Kume Kunihide, Chairman of the Japan Business Association, addresses the dialogue on behalf of Japanese enterprises. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

At the conference, leaders from relevant municipal departments addressed questions raised by Japanese businesses on infrastructure development strategies associated with Long Thanh International Airport, labour, taxation, customs procedures and administrative reforms.

Permanent Vice Chairman of Dong Nai People's Committee Nguyen Kim Long and leaders of several municipal departments engage in dialogue with Japanese businesses at the conference. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

Kume Kunihide said Japanese businesses have made significant contributions to the city's economic growth through investment, job creation and human resource development. To further expand their operations, Japanese businesses hope to receive continued support, guidance and close cooperation from the City People’s Committee and relevant agencies.

Municipal leaders and representatives of departments and agencies listen to feedback from Japanese businesses. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

Japanese businesses said the dialogue would provide an opportunity for both sides to openly discuss operational challenges and work together on practical solutions, further strengthening the trusted partnership between Dong Nai and the Japanese business community.

Representatives of Japanese enterprises attend the dialogue on July 24. Photo: Ngoc Lien.

Addressing the conference, Permanent Vice Chairman Nguyen Kim Long stressed that the meeting served not only as an information-sharing forum but, more importantly, as a substantive dialogue. He said the city wanted to better understand businesses' concerns and work with them on solutions that could be implemented immediately following the meeting.

Japan is the second-largest foreign investor in the Dong Nai city's industrial parks, economic zones and high-tech parks, with 279 projects worth more than US$5.87 billion, creating nearly 61,000 jobs.

Going forward, Dong Nai will shift its investment strategy from prioritizing quantity to focusing on quality, efficiency and sustainability. The city will give priority to high-tech, semiconductor, electronics, artificial intelligence, supporting industry and green technology projects, as well as projects capable of leading supply chains. These are also sectors in which Japanese businesses have strong competitive advantages.

Nguyen Kim Long encouraged Japanese businesses to continue choosing Dong Nai as a strategic investment destination, while expanding production, upgrading technologies, increasing research and development activities, transferring management expertise and helping train a highly skilled workforce. The city called on Japanese businesses to strengthen cooperation with local firms, helping them become qualified suppliers and leading the way in green manufacturing, energy conservation, emissions reduction and the circular economy.

The municipal People's Committee reaffirmed its commitment to supporting businesses under the principle of "listening, resolving, creating and developing together." Departments and agencies have been instructed to clearly define responsibilities, timelines and expected outcomes while ensuring issues within the city's authority are resolved promptly. Matters beyond its jurisdiction will be reported to higher authorities for timely consideration. Long stressed that the success of businesses is an important indicator of the quality of local governance and public services. He said Dong Nai considers Japanese enterprises not merely investors but long-term development partners in building a modern, sustainable and people-centred manufacturing environment.