The signatories were Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Nam Hai and Japanese Deputy Minister of Economics, Trade and Industry Mitsuyoshi Yanagisawa.

The MoU aims to enhance the implementation of the Law on Chemicals in Vietnam and mitigate negative impacts of the chemical industry on human health and the environment for sustainable development.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and Japan’s Ministry of Economics, Trade and Industry (METI) will share information, knowledge, experiences, regulations and technology in chemical management and work together in personnel training.

The two sides will organise annual dialogues on topics and issues of mutual concern.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister Yanagisawa affirmed that the MoU will serve as an important framework for bilateral co-ordination in drafting standards and institutions for the management of the chemical industry to match regulations of the region and the world.

According to Deputy Head of the MoIT’s Chemical Department Phung Ha, from now until 2015, the two sides will build a chemical database and a list of chemicals to assist the implementation of the Law on Chemicals as part of the Asian Sustainable Chemical Safety Plan.

With METI assistance, the ministry will open training courses for staff in relevant State agencies and enterprises to increase their capacity in chemical risk assessment and management and safety management of toxic chemicals.