“It’s been a few days since the Keieijuku seminar, but the two words ‘prospects’ for the manufacturing industry still resonate within me with a burning urge to change my own business within those ‘prospects'” – This was shared by a Keier with us in a quick morning chat today.

The seminar “Global Economic Fluctuations and Opportunities for the Manufacturing Industry from the Perspective of Japanese – Vietnamese Businesses” took place on the afternoon of October 19, 2023, at the Hanoi Key Industrial Products Exhibition 2023. This event attracted over 300 attendees, including leaders and senior managers from domestic and international enterprises.

The seminar featured insights from experts and leaders from the Hanoi Association of Key Industrial Products Manufacturing Enterprises (HAMI), the Vietnam-Japan Human Resources Development Institute (VJCC) , the Keieijuku Vietnam Business Community , and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (JCCI) . Numerous investment opportunities were presented at the seminar. The seminar was also part of the “Keieijuku Event Series” celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan, jointly organized by the Keieijuku Community, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) , and VJCC.

The main content of the seminar included: Practical application of Japanese-style business management knowledge in Vietnamese manufacturing enterprises, identifying context, opportunities, and challenges, and adapting action orientations for the development of manufacturing enterprises in the VUCA era – a period where the world is changing very rapidly, factors affecting business become uncertain and unpredictable, bringing many new opportunities for businesses, along with a series of unprecedented difficulties and challenges.

The seminar included presentations and discussions by experts such as Mr. Toda Chosaku – former Director of North American and EU Markets for Panasonic Corporation, former member of the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s Advisory Board for economic development; former Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister for developing Vietnam-Japan economic relations, Leader of the Hanoi Association of Key Industrial Products Manufacturing Enterprises (HAMI).

At the seminar, Mr. Nguyen Dao Vinh – General Director of Van Vina JSC and Vice President of the Keieijuku Vietnam Community, stated: To learn the Japanese management style, he personally and the company’s executive board members attended the Keieijuku Program – a special entrepreneur training program for Vietnam, implemented by VJCC since 2009 with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This program is elaborately designed and systematic with modern business knowledge and high practical applicability. As a result of applying the Japanese management style, Van Vina has produced high-quality brass valve products using casting and hot forging technology, capable of withstanding pressures over 100 bar, meeting and exceeding the very high standards of the UL/FM-CERTIFIED organization (USA). Not only do the products meet strict quality requirements, but the company’s product costs are also competitive with similar products from China.

Especially after more than 15 years of organizing Keieijuku Program training courses , the alumni have formed the Keieijuku Vietnam Business Community. The Keieijuku Vietnam Community currently has over 650 members , spread across Vietnam, with a total of 1054 Keiers (as of October 2024) in Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City. With a vision to become a reputable social organization in Vietnam for businesses aspiring to Japanese-style management and to be an effective and reliable bridge for Vietnamese-Japanese businesses, the Keieijuku Community will play an important role in advancing Vietnamese businesses on the path of domestic and international business development.

In the main part of the seminar, experts evaluated economic fluctuations and new opportunities for Vietnamese manufacturing enterprises.

According to Mr. Tadahiro Kinoshita – Chairman of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam, from the perspective of Japanese businesses, all sectors/industry groups that solve social problems have business opportunities. Japanese and Vietnamese Joint Venture companies have high compatibility. Particularly, Japan has rich business experience as well as Monozukuri (the art of making things/production management, emphasizing craftsmanship, high quality, and efficiency in the production process) techniques, while Vietnam has expertise in the digital field and talented young human resources. This is considered a premise for Vietnam and Japan to complement each other’s strengths, contributing to enhancing capabilities and exploiting new business opportunities.

With the success of the seminar, offering multi-dimensional perspectives and investment opportunities for the Manufacturing sector, we received many shares from the members of the Keieijuku Community. We hope that these insights and the seminar’s contributions will serve as a motivation for Keiers to find directions for their businesses in the new “prospects.”