Delta development remains a trade focus
Delta development remains a trade focus
Measures to Boost Sustainable Growth for Major Products of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta in the Integration Era was the topic of an annual conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in An Giang Province this month.
Figures released at the conference revealed that in the first nine months of 2013, the region's industrial production and trade value grew by nearly 9 per cent compared with the same period last year.
In the same period, the region attained total retail sales of VND372 trillion (US$17.6 billion), a year-on-year increase of 19 per cent, and export value of $7.8 billion, up 7 per cent year-on-year, accounting for 8.13 per cent of the country's export turnover.
However, these growth rates were lower than those of the previous years.
The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta's industrial production has scored a slow recovery due to the economic downturn that resulted in low purchasing power in the local market.
Representatives of the Departments of Industry and Trade from Mekong provinces said that prices of most farm produce in the region were low, resulting in low revenues earned by farmers.
Poor transport infrastructure development had also made the Delta less attractive to domestic and foreign investors, according to Huynh Van Ganh, director of the Kien Giang Department of Industry and Trade.
He said many bridges in the region are weak, allowing vehicles of 35 to 40 tonnes. This has caused inconveniences and raised transportation fees.
Other representatives asked the ministry to take measures to prevent the price of farm produce in the region to fall when the harvests come, and to encourage farmers to increase their production.
They also asked the ministry to help introduce projects in environmentally safe and energy-savings production, to improve goods promotion campaigns in local and overseas markets, and to use hi-tech services in the maintenance of farm produce.
During the meeting, An Giang's Department of Industry and Trade signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the fields of energy saving and combat cigarette smuggling and promoting industrial goods and handicrafts with partners from Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Tra Vinh, Tien Giang, Soc Trang and Can Tho City.
vietnamnews
