At a reception for Yoshida Akio, Representative Executive Director of AEON Co. Ltd, PM Chinh highly valued the positive and effective contributions of AEON to the development of retail and export sectors in Vietnam.

Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets Akio Yoshida, Representative Executive Director of AEON, in Japan, May 20, 2023.

He suggested that AEON select Vietnam as its global business hub and continue investing in more shopping centers and outlet malls in suburban areas. He encouraged AEON to invest in the construction of shopping centers in more cities and provinces with high average per capita income, dense population and tourism potential like Quang Ninh, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, the Central Highlands, Khanh Hoa, and An Giang.

The PM also proposed AEON bring more Vietnamese goods to the global supply chain, especially goods of Vietnam’s strength such as apparel, footwear, aquatic and agricultural products.

Yoshida said Vietnam is the biggest investment destination for AEON globally, with over US$1.18 billion invested. AEON has opened six shopping centers in major Vietnamese cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Thua Thien Hue.

Agreeing with PM Chinh’s proposals, Yoshida affirmed that in the coming time, AEON will develop about 20 shopping centers in Vietnam, focusing on supermarket and entertainment facilities. It will also expand the import of Vietnamese goods for distribution in over 20,000 shopping centers in Japan while offering scholarships to Vietnam for human resources training, as proposed by the Vietnamese leader.

On Saturday morning, PM Chinh also held a working session with Prof. Ochi Mitsuo, President of Hiroshima University; Kazuhisa Matsumoko, CEO of Satake Corporation; Yamasaka Tetsuro, Chairman of Balcom Corporation; and leaders of seven businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan.

He praised the initiatives put forth by Hiroshima University and the businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in various areas in the coming time, especially in agriculture, education and training, human resources development, digital transformation, green transition, climate change adaptation, knowledge economy, circular economy, and private hospitals. The PM wished that Hiroshima University would study the establishment of training facilities and branches in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese leader asked firms from the central and southern regions of Japan to work closely with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Fukuoka, ministries and agencies to materialize their plans.

The Vietnamese Government is committed to providing support and creating favorable conditions for Japanese enterprises, and businesses from the central and southern regions of Japan in particular while doing business in Vietnam, he said.

PM Chinh is in Japan for the expanded G7 summit.

In a separate meeting with Hamamoto Hirotaka, President & CEO of Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd, PM Chinh hailed the corporation to pursuing the project on natural gas exploitation for many years, and expressed hope that the natural gas from the project would soon serve Vietnam's thermal power plants. He suggested Mitsui continue cooperating with and investing in Vietnam, especially in the development of green and clean energy that align with global trends and contribute to Vietnam's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

On Friday evening, the Vietnamese PM also hosted Fujimoto Masayoshi, CEO of Sojitz Corporation which has 17 joint ventures in Vietnam and an estimated revenue of around $1 billion.

He hoped that with its strong potential, Sojitz will continue expanding its operations in Vietnam, contributing even more to the socio-economic development, particularly in industrial parks and renewable energy.

The leader asked Sojitz to work closely with the Ministry of Planning and Investment and relevant localities to address any difficulties and obstacles during the implementation of projects, as well as create favorable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, to join Sojitz's supply chain.

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Source: VnExpress