(Dan Tri Newspaper) - At the Mekong Connect 2024 forum, leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assessed that the potential for cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta is very large, but the results so far have not been as desired.
On the morning of December 18th, the plenary session of the Mekong Connect 2024 forum took place with the theme "Investment Capital and Human Resources for Sustainable Linkages between the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Whole Country."
The plenary session of the Mekong Connect 2024 forum took place with the theme "Investment Capital and Human Resources for Sustainable Linkages between the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, and the Whole Country" (Photo: TN)
The Mekong Connect Forum 2024 is organized by the People's Committee of An Giang province in coordination with the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, with the support of the People's Committees of the provinces and cities of Ben Tre, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Hau Giang, and Vinh Long.
There needs to be close cooperation between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City.
Speaking at the conference, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat said that the Mekong Delta comprises 13 localities, of which 6 are among the top 30 localities nationwide in the innovation index.
Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat - Minister of Science and Technology (Photo: BT).
In this study, the innovation scores and rankings of localities in the Mekong Delta region are divided into three fairly distinct groups: Can Tho and Long An in the top group; Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Hau Giang and Tra Vinh in the second group; and Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, An Giang, Ca Mau, and Kien Giang in the third group.
According to Minister Huynh Thanh Dat, the Mekong Delta is considered a region with rich potential, boasting vast rice paddies, a diverse aquatic ecosystem, and an abundant labor force, making it a crucial pillar in Vietnam's agricultural economy.
However, the region is facing serious challenges related to climate change, saltwater intrusion, land subsidence, and global competitive pressures.
"I believe that the close link between the Mekong Delta and Ho Chi Minh City - the leading economic, commercial, and technological center of the country - is the key to overcoming challenges, catching up with global trends in responding to climate change, and enhancing the region's competitiveness," said the Minister of Science and Technology.
To achieve the goals and ideas of sustainable development, Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat outlined two key tasks that the Mekong Delta region needs to focus on researching.
Firstly, we must proactively propose and advise on mechanisms and policies to support and promote the innovative startup ecosystem, focusing on piloting new and specific mechanisms to implement activities in depth.
Next, the Mekong Delta needs to continue implementing activities to build an innovative startup ecosystem in localities within the region, linked to areas that effectively exploit the region's strengths.
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai (left) and former Chairman of the Culture Committee Phan Thanh Binh (Photo: BT).
Ho Chi Minh City is committed to being the leading engine for economic development in the Mekong Delta.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Duong Ngoc Hai, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, assessed that the potential for cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta is enormous; however, the results so far have not been as desired, and regional linkages have not gone into depth due to many existing difficulties and challenges.
According to Mr. Hai, Ho Chi Minh City, with many favorable conditions compared to other localities, will continue to play a core and leading role in linking the region in the new context and new global development trends, helping the entire Mekong Delta region to accelerate development, break through difficulties, overcome challenges, and strive to achieve the highest possible results for the goals in the 5-year period (2021-2025).
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee leaders, the city will continue to introduce large enterprises to invest in the Mekong Delta provinces, creating momentum for the government to support businesses in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the provinces and cities.
Also at the conference, Mr. Ho Van Mung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province - said that Mekong Connect is the largest annual economic forum in the Mekong Delta region, with extremely positive significance as an annual activity for entrepreneurs, farmers, managers, and experts.
Mr. Ho Van Mung - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province - speaks at the conference (Photo: BT).
At the same time, this also aims to strengthen and promote comprehensive socio-economic cooperation between the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region and Ho Chi Minh City. Furthermore, it creates conditions for businesses to access and seize opportunities and challenges when participating in the international market, and to enhance linkages and cooperation to improve competitiveness and develop appropriate business strategies.
Localities, entrepreneurs, agricultural businesses, farmers, managers, and experts from both within and outside the country meet to build connections, establish relationships, and introduce their strong and potential products.
The Mekong Connect 2024 Forum is a strategic regional connectivity initiative, launched in 2015, jointly implemented by the ABCD Mekong network (An Giang - Ben Tre - Can Tho - Dong Thap), with the participation of Ho Chi Minh City.
To date, Mekong Connect has successfully held 8 editions, and this is the 9th time the event is returning, co-organized by the People's Committee of An Giang province and the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.
This year, the Mekong Connect 2024 Forum welcomes the official membership of Vinh Long and Hau Giang provinces.
Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat (top row) along with leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and leaders of the An Giang Provincial People's Committee participate in promotional activities for the Mekong Connect 2024 forum (Photo: BT).
Mekong Connect 2024 focuses on three key areas to boost cooperation: economics, trade, and technology. This serves as a foundation for promoting regional economic linkages, leveraging local strengths, connecting with Ho Chi Minh City and the rest of the country, and working towards green and sustainable development.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/tphcm-se-gioi-thieu-doanh-nghiep-lon-dau-tu-tai-dbscl-20241218134410871.htm
![[Photo] Prime Minister Le Minh Hung presides over the thematic session on promoting science and technology development and innovation.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/23/1782207872934_ndo_br_dsc-1724-jpg.webp)
