HÀ NỘI — A delegation from Japan’s Okayama City, led by Mayor Masao Omori, paid a working visit to the southern province of Tay Ninh on April 15, aiming to enhance exchanges and promote bilateral cooperation between the two localities.

The delegation was received by Chairman of the Tây Ninh People’s Committee Lê Văn Hẳn, along with representatives from provincial departments and agencies.

At the meeting, both sides shared updates on their socio-economic development, reviewed past cooperation outcomes, and discussed future orientations. Key areas included high-tech industries, supporting industries, human resource training, internship programmes, and cultural and tourism exchanges.

Hản highlighted the visit as an important opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and foster more substantive and effective cooperation.

He noted that Tây Ninh has recorded encouraging socio-economic achievements in recent years. In 2025, the province’s GRDP expanded by 9.52 per cent, placing it among the country’s high-growth localities. Its economic structure has continued to shift towards industrialisation, with industry and construction driving growth. Total import-export turnover exceeded US$31 billion, with Japan remaining a key trade partner, accounting for nearly $1.5 billion.

Tây Ninh province is currently home to over 2,000 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with a total registered capital of nearly $25 billion. Japan ranks fourth among the foreign investors, with 176 projects worth more than $1.26 billion. Japanese enterprises operating in Tây Ninh are mainly engaged in manufacturing, mechanical engineering, electronics, and agro-forestry-fishery processing.

Looking ahead, Tây Ninh aims to attract further investment in high-tech industries, supporting industries, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, semiconductor production, high-tech agriculture, and renewable energy. The province also proposed expanding cooperation in human resource training and sending Vietnamese workers to Japan, particularly in precision engineering, automotive technology, nursing, and elderly care. Strengthening links between training institutions and businesses was also highlighted as key to improving workforce quality.

Both sides discussed expanding cooperation in culture and education, including developing a display space at the Việt Nam – Japan Friendship Cultural Village in Tây Ninh, and creating tourism products incorporating Japanese cultural elements.

For his part, Omori praised the strong ties between Việt Nam and Japan, as well as between Tây Ninh and Okayama. Amid deepening international integration, businesses from Okayama are increasingly expanding overseas, with Việt Nam considered a strategic destination. He expressed his hope that Vietnamese localities, including Tây Ninh, would continue to facilitate Japanese enterprises in exploring investment and business opportunities.

Omori also noted that Okayama is facing labour shortages in sectors such as construction, nursing, elderly care, driving, and commerce. He expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with Tây Ninh in training and recruiting qualified workers to meet local development needs, while creating more job opportunities and improving incomes for Vietnamese labourers.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to consolidate and expand cooperation based on existing agreements, while considering updates to align with new conditions. A joint statement on cooperation between Tây Ninh and Okayama was signed, laying the groundwork for deeper, more practical and sustainable ties in the future. — VNA/VNS