Booths introducing typical products of each locality in the Mekong Delta attracted the attention of many conference delegates - Photo: CHI QUOC
Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta have agreed to promote comprehensive cooperation in the 2024-2025 and 2026-2030 periods, focusing on key infrastructure projects such as the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway and developing waterway tourism.
In particular, these two key economic zones will develop a specific regulatory framework to support businesses, aiming to contribute 30% of the country's GDP and become a model of regional economic development.
Good, need to do better
At the conference, leaders of the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta agreed that the cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta has achieved many positive results in recent times. However, the parties emphasized the need to promote stronger and more substantial cooperation in the coming time.
Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Tran Viet Truong said that in the 2024-2025 period, it is necessary to focus on developing synchronous transport infrastructure. Priority will be given to key projects such as upgrading and expanding the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, the coastal route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with the Mekong Delta and the expressways under construction. He also proposed studying the exploitation of waterway transport connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces, and coordinating the development of waterway tourism on these routes.
Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee Pham Thien Nghia emphasized the inseparable role between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta in the development process. According to him, in addition to signing a memorandum of understanding on cooperation, it is necessary to build a specific regulatory framework to support businesses.
He gave examples: localities need to have mechanisms to support software and hardware for high-tech enterprises, or prioritize administrative procedures and land for enterprises from Ho Chi Minh City investing in the Mekong Delta. These regulations need to be widely announced so that enterprises can understand and implement them.
Vice Chairman of Ca Mau Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Minh Luan agreed with this view and proposed to encourage maximum participation of enterprises based on previous cooperation experiences.
Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Ho Van Mung proposed to improve the efficiency of consumption of goods from the Mekong Delta in Ho Chi Minh City, especially bringing OCOP products to the system of trade centers and supermarkets, instead of just limiting them to fairs. This will help increase the value of products and improve the lives of people in the region. He also suggested that Ho Chi Minh City take advantage of its media agencies to strongly promote the Mekong Delta, contributing to promoting comprehensive development in the region.
Win-win cooperation
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai expressed a clear view on the cooperative relationship with the Mekong Delta region, emphasizing that Ho Chi Minh City does not simply come to help but actually needs and receives many values from this relationship. The city identifies its responsibility and important role in promoting regional cooperation effectively.
Regarding the plan from now until 2025, Mr. Mai assigned the Department of Planning and Investment and the Department of Tourism to coordinate with the provinces to create practical and focused cooperation. The top priority is placed on infrastructure connection, although costly, it needs to be basically implemented first.
Specifically, the city will coordinate with the Ministry of Transport to complete legal procedures, promote the expansion of the Ho Chi Minh City - Trung Luong Expressway, expand National Highway 1 and National Highway 50B, and research and develop coastal and border roads connecting to the Mekong Delta.
In particular, Ho Chi Minh City will proactively research and invite Mekong Delta provinces to participate in the infrastructure development process. One of the key projects is the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Tho railway, with the goal of completing legal procedures and starting construction before 2030. At the same time, the city also proposed to restart important waterway transport projects, aiming to expand connections to Cambodia, in order to develop waterway tourism and logistics.
In the tourism sector, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is tasked with developing coordinated tours, with the goal of extending the length of stay of international visitors in Vietnam. Localities need to coordinate closely in organizing festivals and events according to a reasonable schedule, ensuring that each month there are activities to attract tourists.
Regarding investment and trade promotion, Ho Chi Minh City plans to organize a Mekong Delta space or Mekong Delta week in the city to comprehensively introduce the region's potential. This will be an opportunity for localities to promote, attract investment and develop tourism. The city will also take advantage of the existing communication system to support the Mekong Delta provinces in communication work, through assigning the Department of Information and Communications to develop a detailed plan.
These proposals and commitments demonstrate Ho Chi Minh City's determination to strengthen connectivity and comprehensive cooperation with the Mekong Delta region, towards the goal of sustainable development and common prosperity for the entire region.
The Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong Expressway is one of the projects that Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces have identified as a priority for upgrading and expanding – Photo: CHI QUOC
3 challenges in the connection between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta
Speaking at the conference, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc highly appreciated the cooperative relationship between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces. According to her, this cooperation has created a developed economic region with increasingly close connections, contributing about 30% of the country's GDP and becoming a model of regional economic development.
However, Ms. Ngoc pointed out three major challenges in this cooperative relationship. First, the gap in socio-economic development between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces is still very large, reflected in social infrastructure, health care, education and income.
The second is the issue of climate change and environment, when the Mekong Delta is most heavily affected, along with the industrialization and urbanization process affecting water resources, land, and flooding and saltwater intrusion.
Third, infrastructure investment in the Mekong Delta region is slow and lacks coordination between localities.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment is committed to accompanying Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces by advising the Government to prioritize the development of social infrastructure and remove bottlenecks. The Ministry is ready to coordinate with Ho Chi Minh City and localities to remove difficulties for stuck projects. The Ministry hopes that the cooperation model between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces will become a good model that can be replicated nationwide.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tp-hcm-dbscl-bat-tay-vi-thinh-vuong-chung-20241130081022962.htm
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