A seminar calling for Japanese investors to the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi washeld in Tokyo on Dec. 16, attracting 150 representatives from numerous localenterprises.

When addressing the event, the Vietnamese Ambassador NguyenPhu Binh said that Vietnam is expected to post an economic growth rate of 5.2percent this year despite the adverse impacts of the global financial crisis.

Japan has been one of the leading foreign investors and largestproviders of official development assistance to Vietnam in recent years, saidthe ambassador.

However, he underlined that the country needs access tocapital and new technologies from other countries, including Japan, toaccelerate its economic recovery and development.

The diplomat said hehoped that the seminar will provide Japanese investors with information thatwill help them to understand Hanoi’s investment environment and to draw updefinite plans to invest in the city.

The chief of Hanoi’srepresentative office in Tokyo, Nguyen Thi Thuy Van, presented the city’sadvantages such as its location, infrastructure, security, and abundantworkforce.

Van confirmed that Japanese investors are offered variousincentives in terms of leasing land, workshops and tax breaks if they invest inHanoi.

At the seminar, Asano Eiji, a financial analyst with the MizuhoBank, gave a run down of Vietnam ’s economic situation and the major contents ofthe Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

Eiji said that Vietnamis considered a huge potential market, with a population of more than 86million, a young and abundant workforce and an improved investment environment.

Vietnam’s move to sign free trade agreements with other nations hasopened up many opportunities for foreign investors, including those from Japan,stated the expert.

Japanese businesses which currently operate inVietnam share their investment experiences in the country in general and inHanoi in particular./.