Tay Ninh and Okayama (Japan) sign cooperation to develop high-tech industry and skilled workforce

On the afternoon of April 15, Lê Văn Hẳn, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Tay Ninh Province, met with a delegation from the Okayama City Government led by Mayor Omori Masao.

Cooperation focus and investment outlook

At the meeting, Chairman Hẳn said Japan is one of Tay Ninh’s leading partners, with many Japanese companies operating effectively in mechanical engineering, electronics, processing of agricultural products, and food. He noted that Tay Ninh currently has more than 2,000 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with registered capital of nearly USD 25 billion. Among them, Japan ranks fourth with 176 projects and total capital of over USD 1.26 billion.

Chairman Hẳn added that Japanese firms not only maintain stable operations but also contribute positively to the province’s industrial development. He said Tay Ninh considers Japan in general and Okayama City in particular strategic partners with substantial long-term cooperation potential.

For the coming period, Tay Ninh aims to attract Japanese investment into high-tech industries, supply chains, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, high-tech agriculture, and renewable energy.

Labor cooperation and workforce needs

On the Okayama side, Mayor Omori Masao appreciated the friendship between Vietnam and Japan, and between Tay Ninh and Okayama. He said that as international integration deepens, Okayama firms are expanding overseas investment, with Vietnam as a key destination.

Mayor Omori also highlighted that Okayama faces labor shortages in construction, nursing, elderly care, driving, and retail. He expressed the hope that Tay Ninh authorities and other Vietnamese localities will continue to facilitate Japanese enterprises in exploring the business environment and expanding production and investment.

To address workforce needs, the two sides expect to strengthen cooperation in connecting, training, and receiving high-quality labor to meet local socio-economic development requirements, while expanding job opportunities and incomes for Vietnamese workers.

Next steps under the joint statement

Building on the Joint Statement of Cooperation signed during the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue maintaining, strengthening, and deepening bilateral cooperation. They also agreed to review and update the Joint Statement to reflect the new context and practical needs of each locality.

The prioritized cooperation areas include:

• Developing high-tech industries and supporting industries
• Expanding training of high-quality human resources aligned with business needs
• Effectively implementing internship programs to enable workers to study and work in Japan

Cultural exchanges and tourism promotion

In addition, both sides agreed to boost cultural exchanges and tourism promotion, aiming to strengthen friendship, enhance mutual understanding, and expand comprehensive cooperation in the period ahead.