Chairman of Can Tho City People’s Committee Truong Canh Tuyen hosting the meeting

Chairman of Can Tho City People’s Committee Truong Canh Tuyen appreciated Sumitomo's interest in the investment environment in Can Tho in particular, noting that the meeting provided an important chance for both sides to exchange views and explore potential cooperation and investment opportunities in the coming period.

Introducing the city’s potential and advantages, the chairman said that Can Tho is the economic, cultural, and sci-tech hub of the Mekong Delta. The city holds a strategically important position in transport, logistics and regional connectivity, with an increasingly well-developed transport and logistics infrastructure and a continuously improving investment and business environment, creating top conditions for both domestic and foreign investors.

In recent years, cooperation between Can Tho and Japan has continued to expand through official development assistance, foreign-invested projects, trade, non-governmental aid, and partnerships across multiple sectors.

Currently, the city hosts 124 foreign-led projects with a total registered capital of approximately $7.45 billion. Of these, Japan accounts for 13 projects with a total registered capital of around $1.65 billion, including notable projects such as the O Mon II thermal power plant and AEON Mall Can Tho.

Regarding the city’s investment attraction strategy, Chairman Tuyen said, "Can Tho places particular priority on high-quality, environmentally friendly investments that apply advanced technologies and align with sustainable development goals. These are also areas of strength for Japanese enterprises, including Sumitomo." He expressed confidence that the strengths and potential of both sides are highly complementary.

“The city is ready to facilitate discussions and create better conditions for Sumitomo to study and implement effective, long-term projects in Can Tho in areas of mutual interest, such as infrastructure development, IPs, logistics, clean energy and smart cities, especially IP infrastructure, which is a sector the corporation is currently exploring for investment in Can Tho," he stated.

City leaders are committed to accompanying investors, providing timely support, and ensuring a transparent, stable investment environment with the most advantages possible.

Eita Fujikawa, general director of Sumitomo Corporation Vietnam

Eita Fujikawa, general director of Sumitomo Corporation Vietnam, said that in Japan, the group operates in areas such as IP infrastructure, energy and metro systems. In Vietnam, it has invested in several IPs in northern provinces, including three already in operation, one under construction, and one being developed in cooperation with another partner.

"Under the upcoming strategy, we plan to further expand IP development in southern provinces," he said.

Highlighting Can Tho’s potential and advantages, such as its central location in the region, mild climate and relatively well-connected transport infrastructure, Fujikawa was interested in the investment areas proposed by the city, especially IP infrastructure development.

"I hope that the meeting would help Sumitomo gain a clearer understanding of the local investment environment, paving the way for concrete decisions," he said.

Following the meeting, Can Tho Export Processing and Industrial Zones Management Authority will guide the Sumitomo Corporation delegation on site visits and field surveys at planned IP locations being promoted for investment in the city.

Currently, Can Tho has 13 IPs, of which nine are in operation, while four are under infrastructure development.

Under the city’s IP development planning towards 2050, which is actively calling for investor participation, Can Tho plans to develop 15 new IPs during the 2026-2030 period, and a further 12 IPs during 2031-2050.