The Vietnamese PM held the statement on September 6 in the southern city of Cần Thơ at the Conference on Mekong Delta Investment and Development.

The event lures over 500 foreign participants, including those from the World Bank and many consulates general.

Addressing the conference, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng highlighted that the Mekong Delta holds a strategic significance for Việt Nam’s socio-economic development. Covering 4 million hectares and having a population of around 18 million, the region shares a common borderline of around 330 km with Cambodia and a coast line of 700 km. It contributes 20% of the country’s GDP, accounts for 50% of the national rice output and 52% of aquatic produce. In the period of 2006-2010, the region enjoyed an annual economic growth rate of 10-12%.

However, the region has to face with frequent flooding which has caused huge impacts on locals’ life and production, said Mr. Dũng.

The Government chief also touched upon weaknesses in the Mekong Delta in such fields as economic structuring, competitiveness, FDI attraction, education and training, and planning work.

Integration and development

PM Dũng hoped that 13 localities in the Mekong Delta will closely link their hands, offer favorable policies and mechanism to lure more investors, and tap both inside and outside potentials for the region’s sustainable development and local residents’ better living standards.

Local authorities were asked to review planning schemes, speed up administrative reforms, and create open and sound policies and mechanisms for investor.

The Vietnamese Government always lays red carpets to domestic and foreign players to do business in Việt Nam in general and the Mekong Delta in particular, said the PM.

At the conference, PM Dũng witnessed the signing of an investment cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the US-ASEAN Business Council and some business contracts between the Mekong Delta localities and leading domestic and foreign enterprises.

By Kim Anh