Da Nang opens office in Japanese city to strengthen links
The fourth biggest city in Vietnam Da Nang, after Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Hai Phong, plans to open a representative office in Yokohama, Japan in order to coordinate investment, trade, tourism and other cooperations.
The deputy director of Da Nang, Mai Dang Hieu, said that Yokohama assured support; new investments and tourism from Japan should be attracted by the new representative office.
Six years ago, in 2009, Da Nang and Yokohama signed a memorandum of understanding for liaison. Da Nang city has also established relationships with other Japanese provinces and cities like Kawasaki, Mitsuke, Sakai, Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Okayama. It has attracted 3.37 million USD worth of FDI, of which Japanese investors accounted for 356 million USD.
There are still some challenges for the city to attract Japanese investments. Reasons might be the lack of direct flights, overloaded ports and limited supporting industries. Last year Vietnam’s national carrier Vietnam Airlines launched the first direct flight between Tokyo and Da Nang.
Moreover Da Nang has built a 100ha industrial zone exclusively for Japanese companies and a 1.2ha Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Centre.
Later this year Da Nang also plans to open an office in Korea.
BDG Insight: Da Nang is putting effort in establishing good relationships with countries in Asia leading to attract more investments. Through this initiative the region seems to be able to develop faster.
Original article