The commitment of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to Vietnam’s economic growth remains steadfast, with plans to continue supporting key sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and technology. During a recent meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng, JBIC Governor Maeda Tadashi reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to advancing 15 projects under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, which collectively represent an investment of around $20 billion. Additionally, JBIC pledged ongoing support for energy projects through the Partnership for Energy Resilience and Resource Asia (POWERR Asia) initiative.
Prime Minister Hưng expressed appreciation for JBIC’s long-standing collaboration, emphasizing the significant financial backing for Japanese-led projects within Vietnam. He noted that since the countries elevated their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership nearly three years ago, cooperation has extended beyond traditional areas into new fields such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, renewable energy, green technology, and space development. The prime minister remarked on the vast potential for deepening bilateral cooperation, urging JBIC to enhance its role in mobilizing investment for strategic infrastructure and industrial growth.
Hưng advocated for JBIC to establish robust financing and investment guarantee mechanisms that would bolster industrial clusters, innovation centers, and high-tech manufacturing facilities. He called for an expansion of support for public-private partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and technology transfers, while encouraging Japanese investment in high-tech sectors, including semiconductors, AI, batteries, advanced materials, critical minerals, and other cutting-edge industries.
Responding to these calls, Maeda expressed strong alignment with Vietnam’s development goals and agreed with the proposals discussed. He highlighted Japan’s status as Vietnam’s largest source of official development assistance but noted the growing importance of private-sector investment in sustaining economic growth. Leveraging JBIC’s expertise in public-private partnerships, he indicated the bank’s readiness to enhance collaboration in securing international financing and supporting long-term development efforts.
Looking forward, JBIC plans to work closely with Vietnam on the remaining AZEC projects while backing power, oil, and gas initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s energy security. Maeda also shared plans to foster partnerships with third countries to advance Vietnam’s semiconductor supply chains, AI ecosystem, and data center infrastructure. Furthermore, JBIC is engaging with Vietnamese startups through venture capital projects and exploring collaborations on the Vietnam International Financial Centre and broader cultural exchange programs, underscoring the expanding scope of the Vietnam-Japan economic partnership.