Nguyen Thi Thuy Van, head of the Hanoi Representative Office in Tokyo, told businesses that Hanoi is a potential market for investors as it is Vietnam’s political, economic and cultural centre and has stable security and abundant human resources.

Japanese businesses will enjoy many preferential policies, including those on tax and infrastructure construction, if they invest in Hanoi, said Ms Van.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh said despite the global financial and economic recession, Vietnam has overcome the most difficult times and its GDP this year is expected to rise to 5.2 percent.

He also said Vietnam-Japan relations have developed well in recent times through a regular exchange of visits. Japan is Vietnam’s biggest donor and one of the leading investors in the Southeast Asian nation.

Asano Eiji, a specialist of Mizuho bank, said Vietnam is a potential market which has more than 86 million consumers, a young and abundant labour force, and an improved legal system and investment environment. Vietnam’s signing of free trade agreements with other countries is opening up opportunities for foreign investors, including those from Japan, he said

At the workshop, representatives of Japanese businesses operating in Vietnam shared experiences in investing in the country and Hanoi in particular.

The event was jointly held by the Hanoi Representative Office and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan.