Ca Mau urged to rise strongly

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the southernmost province of Ca Mau to devise effective measures for comprehensive reform to make the locality rise strongly in the Mekong Delta region.

At a working session with key officials of Ca Mau in Hanoi on September 20, the PM asked ministries and sectors to work closely with the province in the implementation of the measures, while supporting Ca Mau to overcome difficulties, especially climate change impacts to boost socio-economic growth.

Lauding the development of the province’s aquatic farming with many major Vietnamese firms in the field, the PM held that Ca Mau should promote this outstanding strength and make the sector a spearhead part of the economy.

He also praised Ca Mau for good performance in ensuring security and social order, as well as in implementing directions and policies of the Party and State, especially in the building of new-style rural areas.

The Government leader directed Ca Mau to make more comprehensive and effective restructuring of agriculture, focusing on producing products with high quality and economic value.

Ca Mau should build a planning to make it the country’s leading shrimp farming area with green energy and high efficiency for better competitiveness, he suggested.

He also asked Ca Mau to make plans to response to climate changes, while maintaining its achievements in building new-style rural areas, prioritising human resources development and administrative reform to attract investors and boost local businesses’ production.

At the same time, he also pointed to the need to ensure good security for fishermen in their activities, support small and medium-sized enterprises, and back startups to increase the number of firms.

At the session, the PM also approved in principle the investment in building climate change adaptation works to meet the immediate need in easing drought and saltwater intrusion and ensuring water supply for locals.

With a coastline of 254km, Ca Mau has a massive fishing ground of over 100,000 square kilometers and rich fishery resources. It has also the leading locality in seafood farming and processing for exports in many years.

Currently, Ca Mau is also among top localities in building new-style rural area, with the majority of communes fulfilling 13.3 out of 19 criteria of the programme, despite a loss of 53,000 hectares of rice farms due to severe drought and saltwater intrusion.

However, its administrative reform speed is now ranking 59th among 63 localities nationwide. At the same time, climate change impacts have caused serious landslide in the province.-VNA