Major Japanese trading house Sumitomo Corp. is considering becoming a player in Vietnam's water management industry, with its eye on water supply, sewerage facilities and water circulation systems, Sumitomo President Susumu Kato said recently.
In an interview, Kato said Sumitomo "will put more emphasis" on infrastructure development in Vietnam, which is attracting a great deal of interest from Japanese businesses.
"It is important for Japanese corporations, municipalities and the central government to collaborate in starting water operations," Kato said. He also spoke about the recent collaboration between public and private sectors to win infrastructure-related orders overseas.
Japanese companies do not have the skills to manage water and sewerage systems because such systems are operated by municipalities, Kato explained.
Kato also said Sumitomo will seek "active involvement" in a subway project in Vietnam's capital of Hanoi.
A Vietnamese high-speed railway project based on Japan's Shinkansen train technology will improve the country's transportation system and contribute to overall economic growth, he added
The Japanese company hopes to participate in the project to link Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Sumitomo "wants to support industrial development in Vietnam," Kato said, pointing to an industrial park near Hanoi that the company operates as an example of its achievements. Japanese companies such as Canon Inc. and Panasonic Corp. are based in the park.
He indicated his company's willingness to support investment in Vietnam's parts and materials industries, which are necessary for the country's industrial development.
Source: Water World