On September 18th, 2024, Dream Incubator SEA (DI SEA) had the honor of coordinating the Vietnam-Japan Business Cooperation Conference for SMEs, organized by Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB). The event brought together 60 SME business owners and CEOs in Hanoi, Vietnam, alongside representatives from esteemed organizations including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Development Institute (VJCC), the Center for Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (Hanoi Department of Planning and Investment), and Aozora Bank.
The conference aimed to offer insights into the macroeconomic landscape, currency market trends, and financial solutions supported by participating banks for SMEs. Furthermore, it facilitated potential M&A opportunities between Vietnam and Japan. CEOs of SMEs attending the conference posed numerous questions, particularly regarding breaking down the M&A “barrier” between Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises, choosing the right strategic Japanese investor, and enabling Vietnam-Japan joint ventures to operate successfully post-merger. Furthermore, the CEOs expressed interest in learning more about improving SMEs’ access to beneficial capital support packages from banks.
Regarding the CEO project’s background, VJCC was established in 2002 through a partnership between JICA and the Foreign Trade University (FTU) with governmental support from Japan and Vietnam. As part of this initiative, JICA selected DI as the consulting firm to advance VJCC’s sustainable development and enhance its role as a key liaison for business cooperation and high-quality human resources between the two nations. DI consultants have played a crucial role in establishing market brands for VJCC, such as the Keieijuku course focused on training corporate executives based on Japanese business philosophies, the CEO course providing comprehensive executive training for SMEs in Hanoi, and short on-site training programs at factories. Additionally, in collaboration with JICA, DI fosters connections between Vietnamese SMEs enrolled in VJCC courses and Japanese companies through networking events and company visits in both countries.
For further details, kindly consult the article available at the following link (in Vietnamese): OCB tổ chức hội nghị hợp tác kinh doanh Việt Nam – Nhật Bản cho SME – Báo VnExpress Kinh doanh
