A programme to promote connections for technology supply and demand between Vietnamese and Japanese businesses was held virtually on 20 July. The event was hosted by the Science Technology Development and Innovation Centre (ISC) under the Department of Science and Technology of the northern port city of Hai Phong.
According to a news report, the Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Tran Quang Tuan, noted that the agency has directed the ISC to organise events to promote technology supply and demand connection with foreign partners, especially those from Japan. This move aims to update new technological trends, promote technology transfer and development from abroad to Hai Phong city, he said.
The events have offered venues for foreign businesses to set up partnerships with Vietnamese companies, helping local enterprises join in the global value chains, Tuan stressed. From Japan, Takiguchi, the Director of the Organisation for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation (SMRJ) of Japan, said that SMRJ has provided support for 3.58 million small- and medium-sized enterprises in the country.
The report explained that in recent years, SMRJ has supported Japanese companies to expand their business activities abroad, including Vietnam, through online conferences and e-commerce trading floors. Over 20,000 Japanese enterprises and more than 2,000 Vietnamese firms are using these forms to connect to each other. According to ISC, the event saw the participation of 12 enterprises from industrial and technological centres of Japan such as Tokyo, Osaka, Hiroshima, and Nagoya. They introduced different technologies, including equipment for mechanical processing, automation technology, and technologies for agricultural production and farm produce processing, among others.
After the event, the organiser assisted the businesses of the two sides to negotiate and sign contracts. ISC said a similar event is scheduled to be held in September this year to connect businesses of Vietnam and the Netherlands. So far, ISC has organised hundreds of events to connect Vietnamese enterprises with technology supply and transfer partners in many countries with developed science and technology such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands, and Russia.
Earlier, during an online talk with the Minister and Chairman of the National Public Security Commission of Japan, the Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen said that the country stands ready to work with the Japanese commission on issues ensuring national security and social safety and order. Both sides will continue working closely together at regional and global forums. The Minister said that Vietnam welcomes and highly values Japan’s role in promoting multilateral security architecture in the region. The two sides discussed issues of mutual concern and agreed on several contents to develop relations and ties between the Vietnamese ministry and the Japanese commission.
In June, the Vietnam Cybersecurity Emergency Response Teams/Coordination Centre (VNCERT/CC) took part in the 2021 ASEAN-Japan Drill. The aim of the event was to enhance cooperation between Japan and ten ASEAN countries by addressing trans-national cybersecurity incidents, according to a report by OpenGov Asia.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the exercise was held in both online and in-person formats. It was connected with 200 locations across the country for IT units of ministries, agencies, provinces, and cities to join the event. This year’s drill focused on coordination in dealing with cyber-attacks targeting state agencies through Virtual Private Network vulnerabilities and preventing ransomware attacks on medical institutions.