“Green Economy - New Driving Force for Development”

Updated date: 11/15/2024 04:54:20

DTO - The 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum in 2024 with the theme "Green Economy - New Driving Force for Development" is expected to create a connection between resources and markets to support the development of products, startup projects, technology - services of Dong Thap province and the Mekong Delta region. At the same time, it will form a sustainable innovative startup ecosystem based on science - technology and digital transformation...

Mr. Tran Tri Quang - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Forum Organizing Committee spoke at the Training program to raise awareness and promote actions to adapt to the green transformation trend and reduce emissions.

Before this event, Dong Thap Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Tran Tri Quang - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Forum Organizing Committee.

Reporter: In 2022, for the first time, the People's Committee of Dong Thap province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) successfully organized the Mekong Startup Forum. At this event, provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region set the goal of developing "Modern, circular, low-emission agriculture" and reducing 30% of total methane emissions by 2030 compared to 2020 levels in crop and livestock farming activities. Could you please tell us what outstanding results Dong Thap has achieved so far?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: At the first Mekong Startup Forum in 2022, the Mekong Delta was the first region in the country to have provinces sign a commitment with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector; at the same time, building a strong and drastic action roadmap to accompany the Government in its efforts to realize the Prime Minister's emission reduction commitments at COP 26. In that spirit, Dong Thap promoted implementation and achieved some results.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region to advise the Prime Minister to approve the Project "Sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030" in 12 provinces and cities. The goal of the Project is to "Form 1 million hectares of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation areas associated with reorganizing the production system according to the value chain, applying sustainable farming processes to increase value, sustainable development of the rice industry, improve production and business efficiency, income and life of rice growers, protect the environment, adapt to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the implementation of Vietnam's international commitments". In 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will implement pilot models to deploy the Project in 5 provinces with 7 models: Dong Thap 1 model, Kien Giang 2 models, Soc Trang 1 model, Can Tho 1 model, Tra Vinh 2 models.

In addition, Dong Thap has achieved some results with its commitment to pioneer in creating a regional "Center for Emission Reduction Solutions" and encouraging the formation of innovative ecosystems and creative startups associated with tasks, goals, and solution trends related to "low-emission agriculture".

Dong Thap is one of five provinces participating in the pilot model of high-quality and low-emission rice cultivation associated with green growth with an area of ​​50 hectares deployed at Thang Loi Agricultural Service Cooperative and farmers in the field of Hamlet 4, Lang Bien commune, Thap Muoi district. On September 20, 2024, the province organized a preliminary review of the summer-autumn crop model and the implementation results ensured the planned goals.

The province has also proactively mobilized and received many emission reduction/low emission projects in the province. Specifically, it has received aid from Seed to Table with the project "Organic Agriculture Development"; CP Group and WWF with the project "Conservation and Development of Red-crowned Cranes in Tram Chim National Park in the period of 2022-2032"; the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) with the project "Transforming the rice value chain to respond to climate change and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region". At the same time, it has issued and implemented projects in the Action Plan on Green Growth in Dong Thap province in the period of 2021 - 2030; Plan for Organic Agriculture Development in Dong Thap province in the period of 2022 - 2025, with a vision to 2030; Plan for Developing Circular Economic Model in Agricultural Production in Dong Thap Province by 2025.

Dong Thap also encourages and promotes start-up support activities, organizes the contest "Developing green economy - Pioneering digital transformation" in 2023; deploys and puts into operation the Co-working Space to Support Enterprises and Start-ups at the Building of the Provincial Public Service Units and starts the project to build the Start-up and Innovation Space of Dong Thap province.

In particular, Dong Thap Provincial People's Committee has accompanied local businesses to actively implement a number of models. Specifically, the model of collecting catfish by-products as fertilizer by Vinh Hoan Joint Stock Company. This model has utilized catfish by-products in recent years to successfully produce value-added products such as: industrial cosmetics, pharmaceuticals (collagen - gelatin), nutritional foods (crispy fried fish skin, frozen fish bladders and stomachs) ... to supply domestic and international markets.

With a large mango yield, the model of raising black soldier flies combined with livestock and cultivation utilizes some agricultural waste, mainly by-products and waste from the mango industry (mango peel and pulp) to raise black soldier fly larvae, initially bringing high efficiency. The rice husk recycling model of Mai Anh Dong Thap Company Limited (Cao Lanh district) creates many products with high economic value (wood pellets, rice husk pellets, biochar, biochar) to help reduce environmental pollution and enhance the value chain for the rice industry.

Reporter: What are Dong Thap province's expectations for the 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum in 2024? Especially the Green Economic Development - New Driving Force for Development, sir?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: The first Mekong Startup Forum in 2022 with many practical programs and activities will be implemented to develop agriculture and rural areas in a modern, circular, low-emission direction, associated with startups and innovation. However, the common challenges of the Mekong Delta region are still very large, the awareness and action capacity of both the public and private sectors need to continue to improve to grasp new economic trends to overcome difficulties and optimize opportunities. Innovation, cooperation, and public-private linkage are considered the "key" to solving these problems.

Accordingly, the 2nd Mekong Delta Startup Forum in 2024 is expected to make an important contribution to promoting awareness and innovation goals, finding solutions for specific economic orientations of the Mekong Delta region based on the efforts and effective resource cooperation of both the public and private sectors.

The second Mekong Delta Startup Forum in 2024 aims to maintain and develop the Forum into an effective public-private cooperation and dialogue platform associated with innovation to support and develop businesses and promote green economic orientation in the region. Through the Forum's activities, resources and markets will be connected to support the development of products, startup projects, technology - support services of Dong Thap province and the Mekong Delta region. Especially in the fields of agricultural startups, tourism and innovation towards green economy - circulation and digital transformation.

In addition, forming a sustainable innovation and startup ecosystem based on science - technology and digital transformation; developing a regional startup network system and expanding national connections and international cooperation; attracting domestic and international human resources and experience. Mobilizing the strong participation of the business community, startups in the Mekong Delta region or individuals who are planning to start a business to participate in sharing connections; developing open innovation startups.

Reporter: Could you please tell us how this event, with its expanded scale and many in-depth activities, will create leverage for the development of innovative businesses and startups?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: With a larger, more innovative and in-depth scale, the 2nd Mekong Startup Forum in 2024 will include a series of practical activities. Pre-event activities include training programs to raise awareness and promote actions to adapt to the green transformation and emission reduction trends. The "Mekong Initiative 2024" competition is organized by the People's Committee of Dong Thap province in coordination with the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, aiming to attract the business and startup community (domestic and foreign), institutes - schools and research centers to participate in solving problems of the Mekong Delta region. Looking for initiatives in the fields of digital economy, green transformation, sustainable development, green agriculture, green industry, green tourism, emission reduction suitable to the conditions of the Mekong Delta region; focusing on increasing the content of science - technology, innovation; Connect with investment funds to increase investment support for project development at the "Pitching Day" Investment Conference.

Notably, the Plenary Forum held Discussion sessions with the theme "Connecting - Reaching Out". This is an event connecting large enterprises in key economic sectors in the Mekong Delta region with startups, small and medium enterprises, innovation organizations, experts, union members, youth... to discuss and identify problems, initiatives, and solutions to promote green economy for the Mekong Delta region. At the same time, experience was exchanged between policy makers, experts, startup advisors and youth to propose solutions to develop models to support innovative startups and digital transformation, contributing to the formation and development of an ecosystem to support innovative startups for youth.

Reporter: To help the "startup cranes" fly far, in the coming time, what preferential support policies will our province continue to have, sir?

Mr. Tran Tri Quang: Consistent with the policy of "Developing enterprises and promoting startups" over the past years, Dong Thap has issued many synchronous and specific support policies such as: industrial promotion, trade promotion, access to capital, brand development - product packaging, investment in science - technology, digital transformation, e-commerce... These policies basically meet the basic requirements for the development of the business community and startups of Dat Sen Hong.

In the coming time, the province will continue to promote the effective implementation of incubation policies, forming innovative projects and enterprises. At the same time, adjust and supplement new policies to adapt to the development of society. Along with attracting support resources, domestic and foreign investment capital; implementing activities to improve production and business management capacity, increase innovation and science and technology content to help the "startup cranes" of Dat Sen Hong build a solid foundation, proactively and confidently reach out and dominate the international market.

PV: Thank you very much!

NHAT NAM (performed)

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/kinh-te/-kinh-te-xanh-dong-luc-moi-cho-phat-trien--127080.aspx