A seminar to attract Japanese investment into southern Long An province took place in Tokyo on January 28.

The event was jointly organised by the provincial People’s Committee,the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Japan ExternalTrade Organisation and the Japan–Vietnam Association.

Addressing the event, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee DoHuu Lam said Long An is in close proximity to Ho Chi Minh City – amajor economic and trade hub of Vietnam . The province has anabundance of human resources, and has to date secured 477 projects wortha total of 3.7 billion USD.

The locality is striving to improve administrative procedures and perfect policies and infrastructure, Lam added.

Masaichi Ichikawa, a JICA representative, said Vietnam is emergingas an attractive destination for Japanese businesses. His agency isalso actively assisting the province in implementing projects so as todevelop industries in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung said apartfrom vowing to create a better investment environment and implement thefifth phase of the Vietnam–Japan Initiative, the Vietnamese Governmentis taking positive measures to curb inflation and stabilise themacro-economy to help the national economy grow.

Hung said the embassy will do its utmost to assist Vietnameselocalities, including Long An, and help Japanese investors seekcooperation opportunities.

Long An’s investmentenvironment, preferential policy for foreign investors, and businesses’experience in production and trading were also introduced at theseminar.-VNA