Nagoya/Vientiane – A forum on business operation between ASEAN diplomats in Japan and business people in the Aichi-Nagoya Province of Japan was held at ANA Crown Plaza Hotel Grand Court Nagoya on 6-7 February.

The event with the theme “Great Expectations for Aichi-Nagoya” was attended by 400 people from ASEAN and Japan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Takashi Kawamura, Mayor of Nagoya and Khenthong Nuanthasing, Ambassador of Laos to Japan, who spoke on behalf of ASEAN diplomats, have respectively highlighted the importance of the forum.

As chairman of ASEAN in Tokyo, the Lao Ambassador focussed on the friendly relations and good cooperation between ASEAN and Japan during the past 40 years.

He also belives that the ASEAN-Japan cooperation will be prosperous in the future and that ASEAN will be a comprehensive strategic partner for Japan.

Aichi province is the biggest and most modern industrial production area of Japan, and has the largest number of investment projects in ASEAN. Out of 2,217 companies from the Aichi investing in foreign countries, 608 are in ASEAN, or equal to 24.4%, 235 of them in Thailand, 117 in Indonesia, 107 in Vietnam, 58 in Singapore, 51 in Malaysia, 33 in the Philippines, 5 in Myanmar and 2 in Cambodia.

The Lao Ambassador asked investors from Aichi to extend its investment to all countries of ASEAN.

According to the Lao Ambassador, the investors from Aichi are interested in Laos and are thinking of extending their investment from Thailand to Laos.  Source: KPL