Japanese firms seek software partners

More than 31 per cent of Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) companies prefer to choose Vietnamese enterprises as partners, compared to 20.6 per cent for India and 16.7 per cent for China.

The Japan ICT White Book 2012 was released at the two-day Japan ICT Day 2012 in HCM City, which closes today.
"ICT is playing more and more an important role in economic development and I'm pleased to see strategic co-operation between Viet Nam and Japan," said Nghiem Vu Khai, deputy minister of Science and Technology and chairman of the Viet Nam – Japan Friendship Organisation.
For the last five years, software processing and exports have contributed 30-35 per cent of total turnover for the sector.

Japan, the US and Europe are the three largest customers with revenue of hundred millions of US dollars each year.
"There is a great deal of potential for Vietnamese enterprises to work with Japanese enterprises as contract value is only one-third compared with China," said Takashi Igarashi, a representative of the Japan IT Services Industry Association (JISA).

However, quality of human resources, professional skills and language are all still a challenge for Viet Nam.
"Human-resource training should be done in multiple forms at companies," K. Hirata, general director of Nissan Techno Viet Nam, said. "Vocational training schools should work closely with companies to seek new and more effective training models for human resources."

In addition, management and sales ability are both new challenges for local companies.
"However, there is not any barrier in Viet Nam – Japan co-operation relationship. Japanese companies should feel reassured to order from Vietnamese companies," said Pham Tan Cong, deputy chairman and general secretary of the Viet Nam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA).
Twenty leading Japanese software companies met and worked with 120 Vietnamese partners at the event, organised for the sixth time by VINASA and the Viet Nam – Japan IT Co-operation Club (VJC) in co-operation with JISA and Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). — VNS