Vietnam’s Ca Mau seeks support for agricultural, aquatic product exports to Singapore
Vietnam’s Ca Mau seeks support for agricultural, aquatic product exports to Singapore
Secretary of the Party Committee of Ca Mau, the southernmost province of Vietnam, Nguyen Ho Hai proposed that the Singapore Embassy in Vietnam assist in connecting exporters of agricultural and aquatic products from the province with importers in the city-state during a meeting with the embassy’s delegation in Hanoi on Monday.
Secretary of the Party Committee of Ca Mau Nguyen Ho Hai (L, 2nd) receives a gift from a delegation of the Singapore Embassy in Vietnam. Photo: Loan Phuong |
According to Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam, the potential field for cooperation between Singapore and Ca Mau Province is agricultural trade, particularly fruits, vegetables, and seafood.
Products from the province would need proper certification before export, he stressed.
Singapore’s large seaport can serve as both a reception point for farm produce from Ca Mau and a hub for redistribution to other countries in the region.
Ambassador Ratnam emphasized that 2025 would be a pivotal year for the relationship between Singapore and Vietnam.
Currently, there are 18 Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in 13 provinces in Vietnam, symbolizing the strong bilateral ties between the two nations.
These industrial parks have attracted over US$21 billion in foreign direct investment and created over 300,000 jobs.
Besides, Ratnam highlighted a joint project between Singapore’s Sembcorp and Vietnam’s PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation to develop a large offshore wind power project in southern Vietnam.
A future undersea cable linking southern Vietnam to Singapore would become part of the ASEAN electricity grid, facilitating the development of Vietnam as a renewable energy hub for the region, he said.
Secretary Hai presented Ca Mau’s potential, particularly in green energy development, mangrove forests linked to carbon credits, and some projects such as the Tac Thu and Tan Thuan industrial parks and the Nam Can economic zone.
With the support of the central government, Ca Mau is currently developing various projects like expressways and airport expansions, aimed at unlocking its full potential.
The official proposed that the Singaporean ambassador support the construction of an electricity grid connecting southern Vietnam, particularly Ca Mau, to Singapore. This grid would help collect renewable energy from local power plants for direct or indirect export to Singapore.
Apart from asking for assistance in facilitating investment in industrial infrastructure in the province, the official also expected the ambassador to connect and invite Singaporean research institutes and technology transfer centers to exchange experience and collaborate on pilot projects.
As for the education and training fields, the secretary suggested creating favorable conditions for officials and public workers in Ca Mau to participate in Singapore’s training initiatives, particularly in public governance and digital transformation.
