The event, initiated by the Vietnam Konwakai NPO, aimed to enhance mutual understanding by providing first-hand updates and clarifications from the Ambassador on Vietnam’s current policies and business climate.

The meeting gathered Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, Vietnam Konwakai NPO President Hiromasa Tabuchi, and representatives from various Japanese firms across multiple sectors, as well as delegates from the Vietnam–Japan Business Association (VJBA), the Vietnam Digital Transformation Association in Japan (VDAX), and the E-Future Startup Association.

Speaking at the event, President Hiromasa Tabuchi hailed the robust progress in Vietnam–Japan relations, particularly in people-to-people exchanges and economic ties. Since its founding in 2014, the NPO has served as a trusted platform for Japanese companies to access practical, up-to-date information about Vietnam and identify pathways to enter the Vietnamese market. He emphasized that this roundtable offered a timely opportunity for interested Japanese businesses to learn more about Vietnam’s economic development situation and policies, and to explore potential bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu listened attentively to the companies' questions and concerns, which touched on issues such as Vietnam’s policy on automotive industry development; administrative procedures related to business licensing and property registration under the new governance model; changes in regulations on importing functional foods and pharmaceuticals from Japan; and opportunities to connect with Vietnamese partners in areas such as thermal insulation and refrigeration technologies. Participants also proposed enhanced educational co-operation to develop a skilled workforce for Japanese firms operating in Vietnam.

In response, the Vietnamese diplomat provided an overview of Vietnam’s current economic situation and policy updates. He emphasized that Vietnam is entering a new development phase, aiming to become an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2045, coinciding with the 100th anniversaries of the Communist Party and the country’s founding. To meet these goals, the country is pursuing bold reforms along four strategic pillars: institutional reform, scientific and technological innovation, private economic sector development, and proactive international integration.

Dealing with concerns about recent large-scale administrative reforms in Vietnam, such as the merger of localities and ministries, the Ambassador clarified that these are long-term strategic moves aimed at streamlining the government apparatus for greater efficiency. He stressed that such reforms will ultimately benefit both citizens and businesses, including foreign investors like those from Japan.

He also answered specific questions raised by participants and reaffirmed the Vietnamese Embassy’s commitment to supporting Japanese and Vietnamese businesses in strengthening ties, thus turning opportunities into concrete projects.

On this occasion, Ambassador Hieu praised the Vietnam Konwakai NPO for its valuable contributions to bilateral economic relations and expressed hope that meaningful dialogues like this would continue to foster deeper business engagement between the two countries in the near and long terms.

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