Many Japanese businesses keep a close eye on Vietnamese food industry,but hesitate to invest in the market due to weaknesses of the country’stransport infrastructure and logistics system, a Japanese representativehas said.

Hirotaka Yasuzumi, Managing Director of the JapanExternal Trade Organisation (JETRO) Office in Ho Chi Minh City, spokeabout this concern at a dialogue between representatives of someVietnamese ministries and agencies and the Japanese business community,held in the city on June 25.

He urged Vietnam to swiftlyupgrade its road system and improve the operation of logistics services,in order to shorten delivery time as well as ensure the quality ofgoods, especially fresh food.

This will also help increase theattractiveness of Vietnam to Japanese businesses, particularly small andmedium-sized food producers, he said.

Vietnam and Japan haveagreed to further expand their agro-forestry and fisheries processingindustry under Vietnam’s industrialisation strategy within theircooperation framework for through 2020, with a vision towards 2030.

Doan Xuan Hoa, Deputy Director of the Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Ministry’s Department of Agro-Forestry Products Processingand Salt Industry, said Vietnam hopes to attract Japanese investment inthe food industry from farming to distribution, with focus on productsof great potential such as rubber, coffee, tea, shrimp and vegetablesand fruit./.