Forum to plug Mekong Delta investment potential

Forum to plug Mekong Delta investment potential

A conference to promote investment in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta will be held later this month in HCM City, according to the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry's office in Can Tho.

It will be attended by economists and foreign investors as well as officials from international organisations and others.

The information provided at the conference is expected to help Can Tho and 12 provinces in the region draft long-term plans to promote themselves and create incentives and policies to attract investment.

The conference would play an essential role in the Mekong Delta's socio-economic development, Vo Hung Dung, director of VCCI Can Tho, said.

The delta, with 12.2 per cent of the country's area, has nearly 20 per cent of the country's total population.

It achieved economic growth of more than 10 per cent in 2011 and 2012.

As the country's largest agricultural area, its major exports are agricultural products and seafood. Last year it exported more than 6 million tonnes of rice, or 90 per cent of the country's total shipments.

Exports of seafood were worth $4.1 billion, accounting for 60 per cent of the country's total exports.

Since 1988 the region has attracted more than US$11.3 billion in 830 FDI (foreign direct investment) projects.

Long An Province tops the list with nearly $3.8 billion and 493 projects, followed by Kien Giang with $3.1 billion and 35 projects.

Last year 54 countries and territories invested $14.2 billion here, with Japan topping with $5.7 billion and followed by Singapore with $4.4 billion and South Korea with $4.3 billion.

However, investment in key sectors like agriculture, tourism, and food processing remains limited.

Road and technical infrastructure in the region have not kept up with economic growth and also need more investment. 

vietnamnews