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OSAKA

The friendship and cooperative relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Osaka Prefecture (Japan) were officially established in 2007. 
OSAKA
OSAKA

Osaka Prefecture stands as a premier international financial, industrial, and commercial hub in Western Japan, with a strategic focus on heavy investment in advanced services and trade, which account for 69.8% of its economic structure, alongside advanced manufacturing at 22.5%. The core strengths positioning Osaka's global brand focus on high-tech and engineering industries, including machinery manufacturing, electronic equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, and environmental technologies. This international trade position is fully powered by a comprehensive transportation and logistics network, seamlessly connecting two vital gateways: the Kansai International Airport and a modern, green seaport system. 

Osaka Prefecture plays a role as a key economic and cultural hub of Western Japan, covering a natural area of 1,905.26 km² with a population of 8,758,785 people (as of July 2026). In 2023, the prefecture's gross regional product (nominal GDP) reached approximately JPY 45 trillion, ranking as the second-largest local economy in Japan, with prominent strengths in high-tech supporting industry ecosystems, life sciences, and new energy. The bilateral cooperative relationship was established on a solid foundation through historical legal documents: June 1995: The two localities signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Industry, Trade, and Investment," concurrently establishing the Osaka Promotion Desk to support businesses in expanding markets. October 25, 2007: The two sides officially signed a comprehensive "Friendship Exchange Agreement" on the occasion of the working visit to attend the Asia-Pacific Cities Summit by the leadership of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee.

Mr. Watanabe Shigeki, Vice Governor of Osaka Prefecture, Japan, welcomes the delegation. - Photo: Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper 

Over the years, cooperation between the two localities has yielded outstanding, practical results across three core pillars. In terms of the economy, the continuous organization of major forums and B2B trade matchmaking has successfully unlocked direct investment flows from Osaka's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into local industrial parks, significantly driving the application of modern technology in Ho Chi Minh City's economy. In diplomatic mechanisms, strategic coordination reached a historic milestone when Ho Chi Minh City successfully established its cultural and economic promotion space at the World Expo 2025 Osaka, firmly asserting its position as a dynamic megacity on the international stage. Notably, through a closely maintained high-level delegation exchange mechanism, Osaka Prefecture has actively transferred valuable smart city solutions and committed to opening priority corridors for training and receiving high-quality human resources, helping Ho Chi Minh City rapidly upgrade its urban infrastructure in the digital era.

Looking toward the future, particularly within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue in 2026 (FD 2026), the City is widening its corridors to attract direct investment (FDI) and foster strategic alliances with partners from Osaka Prefecture in five key sectors: 

1. Manufacturing and Precision Machinery: Attracting investment in component manufacturing, transferring high-tech automation technologies, and developing supporting industries.

2. High-Tech Healthcare and Biopharmaceuticals: Welcoming leading pharmaceutical and medical device conglomerates from Osaka to invest in manufacturing plants and R&D centers within the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP).

3. High-Quality Human Resource Training: Expanding academic alliance programs, expert exchanges, and training for core technology engineers to meet international standards.

4. Green Transition and Sustainable Cities: Exchanging solutions in environmental technology, clean hydrogen energy applications, and the integration of circular economy models.

5. Smart Logistics Infrastructure: Leveraging Osaka's operational expertise in multimodal logistics from its mega port and airport infrastructures to optimize logistics supply chains in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Contact Information
OSAKA (JAPAN)