In order to attract the attention of those concerned with marine transportation and shipping in Vietnam which has been continuing to develop remarkably, and with the purpose of selling the superiority of Japanese industrial goods for shipping, the Japanese Marine Equipment Association held a seminar on the ship machinery industry in Hanoi at the end of October, 2004. Though there are still many obstacles to overcome such as the existence of the EU as a competitor and the fact that Vietnam is a socialist state, the entire industry has strong expectations for the cultivation of a new market in Vietnam.