From April 1, 2025, Mr. Kobayashi Yosuke will officially take on the role of Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam. This is the second time he has worked in Vietnam, after his first term from 2005-2009.
Returning after more than 15 years, he expressed his deep impression of Vietnam's remarkable development and affirmed that JICA will continue to be a practical cooperation bridge between the two countries.
"JICA's spirit of cooperation towards building the country through human resource development and cooperation from heart to heart is steadfast no matter how the transformation and development situation takes place - Mr. Kobayashi Yosuke shared in his first message.
Vietnam - Japan relations have been continuously upgraded over the past two decades. In 2009, the two countries established a S strategic Partnership, and in 2014 became an Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia, and in 2023 officially became a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World.
That relationship is reflected in many notable figures: The number of Japanese enterprises investing in Vietnam increased from 950 (in 2008) to 2,394 (in 2023); the number of Japanese citizens residing in Vietnam also increased nearly 3 times, to nearly 19,000 people. Notably, more than 570,000 Vietnamese workers are working in Japan, a testament to the trust and attachment between the people of the two countries.
Within the framework of the development cooperation policy of the Japanese Government, JICA has implemented many important projects in Vietnam, most notably Metro Line 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, the first urban railway line in the country.
In addition to infrastructure, JICA pays special attention to human resource development. Vietnam - Japan University, established in 2014, is a symbol of bilateral cooperation, currently has more than 1,000 students studying with a high-quality program. Many former students have been contributing to the development of both Vietnam and Japan.
Immediately after taking office, Mr. Kobayashi visited a JICA Sabo dam project in Son La province - a northern mountainous locality that is often affected by natural disasters. He emphasized the importance of expanding the cooperation model beyond the traditional framework, to protect people's lives and livelihoods in the face of climate change challenges.
We need to think about new forms of cooperation to protect the right to a safe life, respect and development of each citizen - especially vulnerable people, he said.
The JICA Chief Representative said that JICA aims to implement cooperation projects that not only contribute positively to the socio-economic development of Vietnam, but can also contribute to solving Japan's problems, such as the problem of local reconstruction in Japan. Therefore, JICA wishes to promote cooperation and contribute to further promoting dialogue and linkage between partners of Vietnam and Japan.
