The Mekong Delta provinces of Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau have not made any breakthroughs in utilizing local natural resources for economic development.
The main target of the Mekong Delta key economic region, which includes these four provinces, is to fully tap the strength of each locality, as well as the entire region.
Covering more than 16,000 square kilometers (44 percent of the Mekong Delta region) and with a population of industrial nearly 6.3 million (36 percent of its total population), these provinces are the region's, training and technology transfer centre.
They have so far attracted 108 valid projects with a total registered investment of nearly US$4.78 billion, making up 45.6 percent of the region’s total investment capital.
Despite some significant achievements in the past three years, they have yet to iron out snags in maintaining sustainable growth and gaining a leg up on competition since the use of its land and labour resources is still far from matching the huge potential of the region.
Chairman of the Can Tho municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Son cites a number of difficulties, including a low starting point, poor infrastructure and limited support from the central agency.
The Mekong Delta region is the "rice bowl" of the country, which helps ensure national food security and social welfare. However, agricultural development remains dependent on traditional farming practices as well as at the whim of the weather.
There are plans afoot to scale down agricultural production and gradually shift to other industries. Over the past 20 years, the local agricultural sector has mainly exported raw products because of poor planning management, not to mention inefficient transport facilities.
Judging by the current situation, the four above-mentioned provinces should join efforts to make the Mekong Delta become a dynamic economic, social and cultural region on par with other regions in the country. The focus will be on building new rural areas to adapt to climate change and rising sea levels.
Vuong Binh Thanh, chairman of the An Giang provincial People’s Committee, says that there must be proper policies to help the region develop sustainably.
According to economic experts, the Mekong Delta region as a whole should restructure its economy by reducing agricultural production and shifting to other industries and services to ensure sustainable development.
Source: VOV