From 13-15/11/2013, Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Kyoto, including Mr Tonan - Vice and Ms. Hasegawa - Chief of management office, were present in Binh Dinh to investigate possible cooperation in the field of nursing, Japanese training and granite stone export. 

After meeting with relevant agencies, on 15^th November, PPC Chairman Chairman Le Huu Loc and leaders of concerned departments and sectors continued to discuss with the team. 

The Investment Promotion Center participated the meetings and briefed the content of the visit.

Regarding cooperation in nurse training, Ms Hasegawa said that current demand for nurses in Japan is increasing partly because the number of old people in this country has increased. A number of training units in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh cities have brought Vietnamese practitionersto Japan to work. Vietnamese nurses receive good evaluation and appreciation due to their hard work. Nurses working in Japan must acquire registration certificates granted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, holding language proficiency - Japanese level of N2 (being able to communicate, read and write sufficiently). She wants to establish cooperation with Binh Dinh Medical College in professional training and Japanese language to start bringing Vietnamese trainees to Japan for working in hospitals and health institutions. 

Regarding bringing workers to Japan, in fact, Binh Dinh has great demand for exporting labour. Annually, 300-500 people register to work in Japan. Specifically, from 2010 until now, the province has more than 1,500 workers involved in labor export, in which 135 workers (mostly labourers working in mechanics, electronics ...) participated in labour export to Japan (accounting for nearly 9%). After the meeting with Construction Joint Stock Company 47, a labour export unit in Binh DInh, the Association will assist the company to acquire necessary papers and permits; working as a bridge to introduce the member companies in Japan to receive labourers. 

Regarding establishment of Japanese specialty at Quy Nhon University, with 20 years of operation, the Foreign Language Faculty of Quy Nhon University can take on teaching Japanese to meet the needs of students and officers who are working with Japanese partners. The Association will link Quy Nhon University with Osaka University in Japan in order to exchange trainers, joining to train history, culture, sociology... and especially Vietnamese and Japanese languages.  Osaka University has Vietnamese specialty and Vietnamese professors. In the first stage, the Association will send volunteers to teach Japanese for students who are going to work in Japan  at the University’s Foreign Language Centre.

Regarding cooperation in granite export, companies in Binh Dinh have exported granite stone to Japan over the last 15 years, mostly granite & basalt stone products for outdoor construction with minimal requirements. The Japanese market is having high demand of granite for making tombs and interior designs for houses. However, no company is able to meet the requirements of such a product line. Mr Tonan promised to connect the province’s stone products and businesses with his member firms and its partners. In the nearest future, the Association expects to invite Binh Dinh stone processing and exploiting businesses to Japan to visit their plants and investigate Japanese market.

The Association visit is to survey and prepare for the its member enterprises to arrive in Binh Dinh in February 2014.