The close connection between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City - the country's leading economic, commercial and technological center - is the key to overcoming challenges, optimizing resources and adding value to the region.
This was shared by Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Minister of Science and Technology, at the plenary session of the Mekong Connect 2024 Forum held on the morning of December 18 in An Giang.
According to Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, the Mekong Delta is considered a land of great potential with vast rice fields, rich aquatic ecosystems and abundant labor resources, an important pillar in Vietnam's agricultural economy.
However, the region is also facing serious challenges of climate change, saltwater intrusion, land subsidence and global competitive pressures.
Through forums such as Mekong Connect, the Mekong Delta is gradually affirming its interest in promoting activities and start-up models oriented towards sustainable development, green economy, green technology, promoting sustainable trade, and making good use of available local resources.
The plenary session of the Mekong Connect Forum 2024 was attended by more than 600 delegates.
The Minister of Science and Technology said that this is the right direction to keep up with the world trend in responding to climate change and improving the region's competitiveness.
Mr. Ho Van Mung, Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee - said that the Mekong Delta is a strategic area, accounting for about 50% of the country's rice output and contributing more than 90% of exported rice; providing more than 70% of aquatic product output and contributing about 60% of the country's aquatic product export turnover, especially fish and shrimp.
In addition, the region also accounts for about 60% of the country's fruit output, exported to major international markets such as the EU, US, Japan and China, contributing to increasing the value of Vietnamese agriculture along with great potential for developing logistics and tourism services.
However, according to the Chairman of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee, this area is also facing many serious challenges such as climate change, saline intrusion, subsidence, water resource degradation, environmental pollution, poor infrastructure and especially the lack of resources for sustainable development investment. This requires a long-term and sustainable development strategy, focusing on water resource management, technological innovation in agricultural and aquatic production and processing, and investment in synchronous infrastructure development.
Mekong Connect is the largest annual economic forum in the Mekong Delta region.
First held in 2015, Mekong Connect is now considered a solid bridge between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City. Not only is it a convergence of ideas and initiatives from local governments and businesses, the forum also gathers domestic and foreign experts to discuss and propose development ideas for the entire region. In addition, the forum also creates conditions for businesses to approach and grasp opportunities and challenges when participating in the international market and strengthen connections and cooperation to enhance competitive advantages and build appropriate business strategies.
The Mekong Connect Forum 2024 with the theme: "Promoting economic, trade and technological cooperation in the Mekong Delta - Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country, towards sustainable development in the new competitive context" took place over two days (December 17 & 18) in An Giang.
The forum still focuses on three key areas to promote cooperation: economy, trade and technology. This is the foundation to promote regional economic connectivity, promote local internal strength, connect with Ho Chi Minh City and the whole country, towards the goal of green and sustainable development.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/lien-ket-voi-tphcm-la-chia-khoa-de-vung-dbscl-vuot-qua-cac-thach-thuc-20241218105931612.htm
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