Hai Duong authorities help Japanese firms overcome difficulties

Hai Duong, October 30 (VNA) - Authorities in Vietnam's northern province Hai Duong will support foreign businesses, including those from Japan, in overcoming difficulties, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Hien announced at a meeting with Japanese enterprises on October 29. He said local leaders are doing their utmost to improve the investment climate and reform administrative procedures. The official took note of the difficulties Japanese businesses are facing, as well as their feedback on labour permits, infrastructure improvements, taxation regulations and services, and business operations. The entrepreneurs suggested apartment buildings and trade centres be built next to industrial parks; human resources be improved, especially with regard to foreign languages; and the stability of the investment climate be secured. Local authorities agreed to simplify administrative procedures to issue labour permits and upgrade the electricity infrastructure to provide a reliable supply of power for businesses. The province also approved a housing development project in urban areas and industrial parks by 2020, and issued an investment licence for the construction of 1,000 apartments and a number of markets for workers at Tan Truong industrial park in Cam Giang district. The tax, public security, and electricity sectors set up hotlines to be able to respond to businesses’ queries. Hai Duong is home to 283 investment projects from 24 countries worth 6.3 million USD. Japan ranked second with 66 projects worth 1.1 million USD, with a focus on electrical spare parts, telecommunications equipment, hospitality services, vocational training and trade promotion. Most Japanese projects apply green technologies and follow the State regulations on environmental protection. More than 30,000 local workers are employed by Japanese businesses.-VNA