From December 18 to 22, 2024, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, as Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's working delegation, will have a working trip to Japan.

Accompanying Minister Nguyen Hong Dien on the working trip were Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang and leaders of departments, offices and functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade: Department of Asia - Africa Market, General Department of Market Management, Department of Industry, Department of Trade Promotion, Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, Department of Import and Export, Department of Trade Defense, Department of Organization and Personnel, Department of Planning and Finance, Ministry Office, Office of the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, Institute of Mechanical Research, Institute of Strategy and Policy Research on Industry and Trade, Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Industry and Trade Newspaper...

On the afternoon of December 18 (Japan time), Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and the Ministry of Industry and Trade delegation learned about market development and worked with representatives of the Tokyo-based HiteJinro Group.

Opening the series of activities in Japan, on the afternoon of December 18 (Japan time), Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and the Ministry of Industry and Trade delegation came to learn about market development and worked at Jinro Inc. (a branch of HiteJinro Group headquartered in Korea).

HiteJinro is the world's leading producer of soju and other Korean alcoholic beverages, founded in 1924. The group's products account for more than half of sales in the Korean market.

Currently, HiteJinro Group is focusing on investing in the Southeast Asian market with plans to build a factory in Vietnam, aiming to triple overseas sales by 2030.

At the meeting, representatives of HiteJinro Group's branch in Tokyo, Japan, informed about the group's future production and business orientations.

During the meeting, introducing HiteJinro, Jinro Inc representative said that HiteJinro Group currently has 6 company headquarters located in many countries around the world. Jinro Inc's main function is to import products manufactured in Korea and distribute goods in Japan, while also carrying out promotional and product introduction activities. There are currently about 70 employees and workers working at the Japanese branch.

Currently, Jinro Company is also looking for quality products in Japan to export to the US and neighboring markets and distribute right in Japan.

Jinro Company representative said that if Vietnamese export products to Japan are of good quality, meeting market standards and Japanese consumer tastes, HiteJinro Group is ready to become a distribution channel, bringing Vietnamese goods into the group's distribution chain.

Also according to HiteJinro representative, according to statistical survey data on brand recognition in  the Japanese market  in 2024, up to 65% of Japanese consumers know and use the group's products. With long-standing product lines, recognition even reaches 75%. Thus, the group's product brand recognition is much higher than some products of businesses in the same industry.

In 2022, HiteJinro has renewed its brand identity, bringing a new, more modern and sophisticated look, in line with its future development orientation. And with the message "Through drinks to understand each other better", HiteJinro hopes that more and more consumers will know and use the group's products.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien listened to and appreciated the business orientations and strategies of HiteJinro Group and hoped that the factory project invested by the group in Vietnam would soon be completed and put into operation.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien, Jinro Company representatives and delegates took a group photo after the meeting.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien listens to a product introduction at the headquarters of the world's leading beverage manufacturing group.

Thanking Jinro Corporation in Japan for sharing, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that Vietnam is currently the world's factory, so there is no reason not to bring Vietnamese goods into the distribution chains of corporations in general, HiteJinro Corporation in Japan and globally in particular.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that the group has been taking full advantage of the trade advantages from free trade agreements and cooperation frameworks that Vietnam, Japan and South Korea are all members of, reducing production costs, product prices, logistics costs and tightening relations with neighboring markets.

Not only that, the localities as well as the countries where HiteJinro is headquartered also highly appreciate the business strategy of this group. Because HiteJinro is both a buyer and a distributor, promoting both production and export activities of each other.

Regarding the group's message, the Minister said that this is a very good and close message, helping to connect people closer together. However, the Minister said that the message that HiteJinro wants to convey still needs to preserve its identity, nationalize, and localize to promote the country, culture and people of Korea to international friends.

In particular, the Minister also congratulated HiteJinro on its successes in Japan. The Minister hoped that the factory project invested by HiteJinro in Thai Binh would soon be put into operation to bring Vietnamese goods into the group's distribution chain as well as promote production and business activities in Vietnam.

To realize the above goal, the Minister suggested that HiteJinro not only sell its own products but also incorporate into the distribution system products from countries where HiteJinro is operating commercially and manufacturing.

“ Vietnam has many potential products, and can be suitable for HiteJinro Group. Besides HiteJinro's wine products, Vietnam also has beer, wine products and many seafood products, dried foods, fast foods...”  - Minister Nguyen Hong Dien introduced and expected that Vietnamese products will soon appear in HiteJinro Group's distribution system in Japan and globally.

Previously, in June 2024, at a working session with the leaders of Thai Thuy district, Thai Binh province, HiteJinro Group - the largest beverage group in Korea chose Lien Ha Thai Industrial Park as the location to invest in the first Soju factory abroad on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. The project is expected to start construction in the first quarter of 2025 and strive to be completed and put into operation in the second quarter of 2026. The project is expected to have an investment capital of 100 million USD on an area of ​​8.4 hectares. Forecasting strong growth in the Southeast Asian market, HiteJinro has chosen to build its first overseas factory in Thai Binh province, Vietnam, expected to be completed in 2026.

From December 18 to 22, 2024, a delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade led by Minister Nguyen Hong Dien will visit and work in Japan. During the trip, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien will attend and co-chair the 7th meeting of the Vietnam - Japan Joint Committee on Industry, Trade and Energy Cooperation; chair the Asia - Africa Trade Counselor Conference... Accompanying Minister Nguyen Hong Dien on his working trip to Japan were Deputy Minister Phan Thi Thang and leaders of departments, offices and functional units under the Ministry of Industry and Trade: Department of Asia - Africa Market, General Department of Market Management, Department of Industry, Department of Trade Promotion, Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy, Department of Import and Export, Department of Trade Defense, Department of Organization and Personnel, Department of Planning and Finance, Ministry Office, Office of the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, Institute of Mechanical Research, Institute of Strategy and Policy Research on Industry and Trade, Department of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Industry and Trade Newspaper... Besides the 7th Meeting of the Vietnam - Japan Joint Committee and the Asia - Africa Trade Counselors Conference, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien and members of the Ministry of Industry and Trade delegation will have activities to exchange, meet and interact on the sidelines with partners in Japan...