Can Tho Economic Forum 2025: Solving logistics problems to become the driving force of the Mekong Delta region

(Chinhphu.vn) - On the afternoon of November 14, Can Tho City organized the 2025 Annual Economic Forum with the theme "Can Tho City aims to become a modern logistics center, a driving force for development in the Mekong Delta region".

Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Van Khoi speaks at the workshop - Photo: VGP/LS

Regional center advantage but logistics not commensurate

The forum brought together experts, scientists and businesses in the fields of investment, digital economy , finance, and logistics to offer strategic advice and solutions to remove "bottlenecks" in infrastructure, services and institutions, in order to improve Can Tho's competitiveness and strengthen regional connectivity.

Can Tho is assessed to have a strategic position, playing a central role in the Mekong Delta region, being a trading hub, service center, logistics, processing industry and marine economy, and is identified as one of the growth drivers of the region.

The city owns a diverse transportation system including waterways, roads, and airways, playing the role of a logistics center connecting Can Tho with Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta provinces, and international economic corridors, contributing to reducing logistics costs and increasing the efficiency of the goods supply chain.

Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, said that Resolution No. 59 of the Politburo clearly identified Can Tho as a center of services, trade, tourism, logistics, and processing industry, playing a driving role in promoting the development of the whole region. Decision No. 287 of the Prime Minister approving the Mekong Delta Regional Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, continues to affirm that Can Tho is a key driving force, a multimodal logistics gateway connecting the vital economic axis with Ho Chi Minh City.

However, in recent times, the goal of becoming a comprehensive hub with the main functions of trade, logistics, deep processing industry, and high-tech application to increase the value of agricultural products of Can Tho City still faces many difficulties and challenges.

Specifically, infrastructure development is not yet synchronous; the road, waterway, port and digital infrastructure systems have not yet fully developed to meet the needs of large investors. Logistics services, especially agricultural logistics, still have many limitations in the stages of receiving, processing, preserving, packaging, warehousing, transportation to customs clearance, etc.

Most logistics enterprises are small and medium-sized, with limited capacity to provide integrated services along the value chain or in large quantities. Besides positive policies that create momentum for development, there are still policies that are not suitable for the new situation and the changes in the city's economy after the merger.

Can Tho has great potential and advantages in trade, services, logistics and marine economy, but still needs to soon overcome limitations in infrastructure, logistics services, business capacity and policy mechanisms - Photo: VGP/LS

Five key issues that need to be resolved

From the above situation, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa, Acting Director of the Institute of Socio-Economics of Can Tho City, on behalf of the Organizing Committee of the Forum, expressed his wish that experts, scientists, businesses and delegates would focus on exchanging, discussing, proposing solutions and policy recommendations for 5 key groups of issues:

Firstly, about logistics infrastructure: Including inland waterways, sea routes, roads, railways, airways and logistics centers, to ensure synchronous and interconnected connectivity between Can Tho and localities in the region and the whole country.

Second, on logistics services: Focus on transportation, warehousing, delivery and related ancillary services, aiming at standardization, improving quality, reducing costs and increasing competitiveness.

Third, about logistics service enterprises: Related to the quantity, capacity, development trends and international integration level of enterprises; how to form a strong enough team of enterprises, capable of providing full-package services along the value chain.

Fourth, on market development for logistics services: In the context of increased import and export, rapid development of e-commerce, and increasingly strict international standards, expanding and developing the market for logistics services is more urgent than ever.

Fifth, regarding mechanisms and policies in the coming time: To remove bottlenecks, unblock resources, promote investment, support businesses and strengthen regional connectivity, helping Can Tho maximize its role as the driving center of the Mekong Delta.

Paving the way for Can Tho to break through in logistics in the Mekong Delta region

At the forum, experts, scientists, and businesses in the fields of logistics, transportation, digital economy, and finance focused on exchanging and offering many solutions for developing infrastructure, services, businesses, mechanisms, and policies; removing barriers and creating a foundation for the sustainable development of logistics in Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta region.

From the perspective of experts, businesses and state management agencies, the forum clearly analyzed the current situation, difficulties, challenges as well as opportunities in logistics development in Can Tho and the whole Mekong Delta region. The results showed that Can Tho has great potential and advantages in trade, services, logistics and marine economy, but still needs to quickly overcome limitations in infrastructure, logistics services, business capacity and policy mechanisms.

The 2025 Annual Economic Forum is therefore seen as an important step, opening up new approaches, creating a foundation for Can Tho to realize the goal of becoming a modern logistics center, playing the role of a driving force for the development of the entire Mekong Delta region in the coming time.

Le Son

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/dien-dan-kinh-te-can-tho-2025-giai-bai-toan-logistics-de-tro-thanh-dong-luc-vung-dbscl-102251115090019668.htm