We need more fighter jets as well

Mitsubishi reveals aircraft factory plans to PM Dung

HA NOI — Japan’s Mitsubishi wants to build a factory to make light aircraft parts in the Thang Long Industrial Park, Ha Noi, as a prelude to the manufacture of civil aircraft in Viet Nam, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung was told yesterday.

The planned aircraft would carry from 80-90 passengers, said Sumitomo and Japan-Viet Nam Economic Committee chairman Motoyuuki Oka.

The committee is affiliated with the Nippon Keidanren economic alliance.

The plans were revealed at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday during which the prime minister said the Viet Nam Government and people wanted to see more comprehensive co-operation with Japan, particularly in economy, trade and investment.

The Prime Minister praised the efforts by the two countries to implement the second phase of the joint Viet Nam-Japan initiative to improve the investment climate in Viet Nam.

He now hoped Viet Nam and Japan would continue to the third stage of the initiative with the negotiation of a mutually beneficial agreement for economic co-operation.

He used the occasion to especially thank both Motoyuki Oka and Japan’s Ambassador to Ha Noi, Norio Hatori, for their contributions to the joint initiative and establishment of a strategic Viet Nam – Japan partnership.

"The Viet Nam Government is committed to providing the most favourable conditions for foreign investors, including Japanese," the prime minister said.

Sumitomo and Japan-Viet Nam Economic Committee chairman Motoyuuki Oka asked the Prime Minister to convey his deep condolences to families of victims of both the floods that have inundated central Viet Nam and the collapse of the Can Tho bridge.

"Three companies undertaking construction of the Can Tho bridge are members of the Nippon Keidanren, and they earnestly wish to find out as soon as possible the causes of the collapse so they can continue their work," he said.

"We don’t want the incident to have a negative impact on the fine relations between our two countries."

Motoyuuki Oka also listed the progress of the second phase of the joint Viet Nam-Japan initiative.

"Over the last 18 months, the contents of 80 initiatives have been implemented, contributing to the betterment of the foreign-investment climate in Viet Nam," he said.

"In 2006, Japan invested some $1.3 billion into country, an increase of 40 per cent against the previous year."

"Many Japanese big corporations affiliated with Nippon Keidanren, including the Sumitomo Group, have developed strategies to expand their business in Viet Nam."

But more discussion about the third phase was needed and Japan hoped for further co-operation from Viet Nam’s government agencies.

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showart...num=04ECO101107

Yeah, but VN needs to bring something special to the already overcrowded market. The reason Boeing and Airbus survive is thanks to various forms of subsidy.

I propose VN build planes that can fly through dense jungle, or go underground if necessary ... VN may have done just that ...

This mother can go through any jungle!!!



These have just returned from deep inside Cu Chi tunnels

This is indeed good news for Vietnam. This 80-90 seat market segment is highly lucrative though not as large as the above 100 seats dominated by Boeing and Airbus. Bombardier (Canada) and Embraer (Brazil) currently share the market but Russia has made an initial entry into the playing field with the Sukhoi Superjet. I believe China has announced a similar plan. The thinking is that more point to point service will increase as more countries get wealthy, instead of a hub model, and thus, regional jets will be in high demand.

Brazil's Embraer is a great example of how a relatively low-income nation can succeed in the aerospace industry. I have my doubts on Sukhoi (better known for its fighter jets) and the Chinese regional jets. Vietnam should take advantage of Japanese assistance to extract the know-how and build up her industries.