Within the working program with international agencies/organizations in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho Promotion Agency, led by Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Center, held meetings with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – JICA Vietnam Office, Ho Chi Minh City Branch, and Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ho Chi Minh City (JCCH) to promote cooperation in investment and trade promotion.

Working session with JICA Vietnam Office – Ho Chi Minh City Branch: Enhancing business connectivity and human resource development

On May 13th, 2026, during the meeting with JICA, both sides discussed practical contents to support Can Tho City in investment promotion. Mr.Karasawa Masayuki, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam Office – Ho Chi Minh City Branch, proposed facilitating connections with Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi city to participate in Can Tho’s upcoming investment promotion, cultural exchange, and trade activities.

In addition, JICA suggested that Can Tho strengthen linkages with Japanese enterprises operating locally, such as AEON Mall, to leverage business ecosystems and attract more Japanese investors to explore the city’s investment environment.

Regarding human resource development, JICA introduced training cooperation programs through Vietnam – Japan Institute for Human Resources Developmen (VJCC) under the Foreign Trade University (FTU), VJCC that provides training, research, consulting, and application in economic management and business administration based on Japanese models, cultural exchange and trade promotion programs, implements the VJCC Project funded by the Government of Japan through JICA. Furthermore, JICA proposed that Can Tho expand participation in investment promotion events including students, thereby providing Japanese enterprises to better access and assess local human resources.

Ms. Nguyen Kim Ngoc, Vice Director of the Center, presented a souvenir to Mr.Karasawa Masayuki, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam Office – HCMc Branch

Working session with Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ho Chi Minh city (JCCH): Opportunities to capture Japanese investment flows and strengthen multi-sector cooperation

On May 14th, 2026, the delegation worked with JCCH in HCMc, Mr.Masaya Ueda – Secretary General highly appreciated Can Tho’s development potential, especially as transport infrastructure in the Mekong Delta continues to improve.

JCCH expressed interest in training, particularly in high-tech agriculture and wished to explore opportunities for cooperation in Can Tho. JCCH also recommended that the city continue improving investment support policies and provide detailed information on industrial parks to build investor confidence. Notably, JCCH shared that by 2040, many Japanese enterprises will have their land leases expire in industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City. This presents an opportunity for Can Tho to proactively develop strategies to attract this investment relocation wave.

In addition, JCCH committed to facilitating connections with Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ha Noi (JCCI) to invite businesses to participate in Can Tho’s investment promotion events. They also proposed strengthening cooperation with JETRO to update export standards for the Japanese market, thereby enhancing the export capacity of local enterprises. Moreover, JCCH suggested that Can Tho promote linkages with retail systems such as AEON Mall to bring local products into distribution chains in both Japan and Vietnam, while boosting investment promotion in food processing and manufacturing – sectors with strong demand from Japanese enterprises.

Can Tho Promotion Agency took a photo with Mr.Masaya Ueda – Secretary General, JCCH

Future cooperation orientations

Through these meetings, Can Tho Promotion Agency has established important connections with Japanese investment and trade promotion organizations, thereby opening up new opportunities for cooperation in investment promotion, human resource development and export market expansion. This will serve as a foundation for the city to enhance investment attraction efficiency and contribute to its socio-economic development in the coming period.

Da Uyen