Ho Chi Minh City connects with the Mekong Delta to build a supply chain of goods and services

On November 16, at the plenary session of the Mekong Connect 2023 forum, Mr. Vo Van Hoan - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee stated: Green growth and sustainable development are inevitable and irreversible requirements. At the same time, the new situation also raises the need for self-reliance, self-reliance and resilience of each country. This need requires regions and localities across the country to closely connect with each other to promote overall strength.

"HCMC has signed an agreement with 38 provinces and cities across the country and developed a plan to implement the Socio-Economic Development Cooperation Program for the period up to 2025. Therefore, the city has identified a close regional linkage between provinces and cities in the task of economic development towards a green and sustainable economy" - Vice Chairman of the HCMC People's Committee said.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan shared his expectations for regional connectivity with provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta. Photo: Van Thuan

Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Tran Viet Truong stated that the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 45/2022/QH15 dated January 11, 2022 on piloting a number of specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Can Tho City. Then, on June 24, 2023, the National Assembly issued Resolution No. 98/2023/QH15 on piloting specific mechanisms and policies for the development of Ho Chi Minh City. Since then, the study of exploiting specific strengths and applying policy mechanisms between the two centrally-run cities has become urgent to share experiences, overcome difficulties, find opportunities and promote potential. In particular, the project "Center for linking, producing, processing and consuming agricultural products in the Mekong Delta region in Can Tho City" (referred to as the Linkage Center) enjoys specific policies and mechanisms, which are expected to create new growth momentum for both the region and Can Tho City.

Regarding the current situation of linking, producing, processing and consuming agricultural products in the Mekong Delta, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City said that there are still difficulties in building and developing the transportation system. There is a shortage of quality plant varieties, a lack of technical and management capacity of farmers, and uneven investment in agricultural technical infrastructure. Processing and processing of agricultural products is the weakest link. Consumption in the Mekong Delta is facing difficulties in accessing the consumer market. There is a lack of policy mechanisms to attract large enterprises to invest in the field of agricultural processing technology.

Therefore, the formation of highly professional value chains is essential to limit the loss of synchronization between supply and demand, overcome vulnerability, and cause disruptions in the supply chain of goods.

"Can Tho City People's Committee really wants to cooperate with Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee to apply special mechanisms, open up a favorable ecosystem for ideas to promote specific strengths and special experiences from localities to jointly promote the best potential of all resources, both internal and external" - Mr. Truong said.

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