Mekong Delta economic co-operation forum highlights agricultural restructuring

The Mekong Delta Economic Co-operation (MDEC) Forum 2014 opened in Soc Trang on November 5 under the theme 'Agricultural restructuring - building new style rural areas in the Mekong Delta' with the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy PM Ninh, who is also head of the Southwestern Region Steering Committee, said that MDEC has become an important annual event attracting much attention from ministries, localities, enterprises and international organisations.

Through seven yearly forums since 2007, MDEC has proposed many initiatives, policies and mechanism to promote co-operation between localities in the Mekong Delta region and other regions, and between business communities.

Illustration photo (Photo: Thai Thien)

According to the Deputy PM, this year's forum is a practical event helping implement State policies on agricultural restructuring and rural development as well as realising the wish for prosperity in this high potential region.

He emphasised the important role of the Mekong Delta region, saying that it has a strategic position for socio-economic development and ensuring national security and defence. The region also has high potential and special advantages in land, water surface and labour resources which contribute 20% of the entire the national GDP, produces over 50% of the total national food, account for over 90% of exported rice, 70% of fruit volume and 60% of national seafood export revenue.

The region also possesses mangroves, a river system and is also the convergence of Kinh, Khmer and Cham cultures, creating favourable conditions for ecotourism and cultural tourism development.

This year's event will run until October 7 including various activities such as a forum on agricultural restructuring and building a new style rural area in the Mekong Delta in response to climate change; a conference promoting investment in agriculture towards a green and sustainable economy; and an exhibition, trade and tourism fair on the Mekong Delta region, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi among others.

Within the framework of the forum, a 'Ngo' boat racing of the Khmer ethnic minority group will be held along with activities to introduce craft villages and traditional specialities of Soc Trang province.

At the MDEC, 11 enterprises have registered to provide VND470 billion to implement projects on socio-economic development of the Mekong Delta region.

Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Van Binh also granted VND50 billion to Soc Trang province to build Tran De General Hospital which kicked off this morning with a total investment of VND120 billion.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)