Mekong delta needs to boost inter-regional development

CA - The Vietnamese Government has decided to intensify investment in technical facilities to help the Mekong Delta region speed up inter-regional development, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

He stated this at a conference on investment and the development of the Mekong Delta region in Can Tho City on September 6, which attracted more than 700 Vietnamese and overseas delegates.

The Mekong Delta region holds an especially-important position in the country’s strategy for socio-economic development. Covering 13 provinces and cities, with a population of 18 million, the region’s annual GDP accounts for 18 percent of the country’s. It is also Vietnam’s biggest agricultural producer and seafood processor and accounts for 50 percent of rice output, 52 percent of seafood output, approximately 90 percent of the country’s rice exports and 60 percent of seafood turnover.

On addressing the conference, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said that the Vietnamese Government always encourages and creates the best possible conditions for domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to do business in Vietnam as well as in the Mekong Delta region.

Despite recording significant socio-economic, development in the region is still far from matching its potential because of the poor quality, low efficiency and competitive capacity of products, businesses and human resources, plus limited foreign investment in its infrastructure any many poor households. The Government has adopted a number of policies to help the region develop into the country’s main granary and centre for aqua-culture, fishing, seafood processing and energy, said Mr Dung.

He asked the local authorities to monitor their zoning plans, enhance administrative reform and create appropriate and open mechanisms to attract more investment in line with the localities’ conditions.

Mr Dung praised the conference as a good way of attracting FDI, developing the transport infrastructure, agriculture, the processing industry, human resources and the management of water resources.

The conference also provided an excellent opportunity for many agencies and the business community to share the latest information on mechanisms and polices related to major investment projects and to iron out snags in business and investment.

It is a practical for Mekong Delta provinces to create a close link to tap into the region’s potential and strength and to call for more investment in major projects as well as pushing socio-economic development and improving the local people’s material and spiritual lives.

Mr Dung witnessed the signing of several investment cooperation agreements planned for the Mekong Delta provinces, including electricity, transport, tourism, the construction of seafood processing plants and financial and banking universities.