In a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on 14/7, Masayuki Omoto, CEO of Marubeni Corporation, commended Vietnam's strategic decisions and improving business environment, which create favorable conditions for investors.
"Vietnam is a key strategic market, and the corporation will continue to contribute further to Vietnam's development," he affirmed.
According to Omoto, Marubeni plans to expand its operations in Vietnam with projects such as the O Mon II gas-fired power plant, the Quang Ninh LNG power plant, wind and solar farms, and the Amata City Ha Long Industrial Park. They also plan to invest in factories for processing goods for export and smart city projects in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Masayuki Omoto, CEO of Marubeni Corporation, on 14/7. Photo: VGP |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Masayuki Omoto, CEO of Marubeni Corporation, on 14/7. Photo: VGP
Marubeni is a leading Japanese trading and investment conglomerate with 130 branches and offices in 68 countries worldwide. They operate in most economic sectors with annual revenue of approximately 70 billion USD. Marubeni has invested in Vietnam for 80 years, establishing its Vietnam office in 1991. The corporation's projects in Vietnam currently employ about 7,500 Vietnamese staff, generating annual revenue of approximately 3 billion USD.
This investor has focused on key areas such as import and export of goods (coal, seafood, coffee, grains, and petrochemical products); mergers and acquisitions; industry; food processing; and textiles. In the energy sector, they have built 11 thermal power plants with a total capacity of 4,000 MW, including Nghi Son 2 Thermal Power Plant (1,200 MW).
Prime Minister Chinh recognized Marubeni as one of the few corporations that have invested in Vietnam for 80 years. He stated that Marubeni's choice of Vietnam as a strategic location has positively contributed to Vietnam's socio-economic development. Specifically, this foreign enterprise has contributed to increased technology transfer, export revenue, job creation, and tax revenue for the state budget.
The Prime Minister welcomed Marubeni's plan to expand investment in Vietnam. He affirmed that the government will create favorable conditions for foreign enterprises, including Japanese businesses, to invest and operate effectively.
The government leader said Vietnam has a feasible legal framework for large-scale power projects such as LNG and offshore wind power. He added that the issues related to the O Mon II gas-fired power plant project have been resolved.
He requested Marubeni continue to consider Vietnam a strategic investment hub with a long-term vision. He expressed his hope that the corporation would expand its operations in energy sectors such as gas-fired power and offshore wind power to serve GDP growth, develop domestic artificial intelligence and big data infrastructure, and export electricity to ASEAN countries.
The Prime Minister also suggested Marubeni cooperate with the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (TKV) in coal export to Japan. Other suggestions include collaborating in crop and livestock breeding, branding, processing, and exporting Vietnam's key agricultural products such as coffee, rice, and high-quality food, as well as investing in and developing industrial parks.
The Prime Minister suggested Marubeni could open factories producing instant noodles, mochi, and pharmaceuticals in Vietnam to serve domestic demand and export. At the same time, they could support Vietnamese businesses in participating in the corporation's global supply chain, training human resources, and promoting cooperation in science, technology, and digital transformation.
In response, the CEO of Marubeni said they would make further efforts to implement specific projects with high added value in Vietnam in the areas suggested by the Prime Minister.
Phuong Dung
