Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime MinisterTrinh Dinh Dung has approved adjustments to the development master plan for the Mekong Delta region until 2020, with a vision to 2050.
Accordingly, the region will go in the direction of green and sustainablegrowth and adaptation to climate change, aiming to become a national hub of agriculturalproduction, fisheries, sea-based economy and eco- and river tourism.
The Mekong Delta regioncovers Can Tho city and 12 provinces - An Giang, Ben Tre, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau,Dong Thap, Hau Giang, Kien Giang, Soc Trang, Long An, Tien Giang, Tra Vinh, andVinh Long – with a total area of 40,576.6 sq.km.
In industrial development, attention will be focused on agro-aquaculture-forestryand food processing; support industry, and clean and renewable energy.
The development of new industrial parks will be limited in order to fullyexploit existing ones, with total area of IPs kept at 15,000-17,000 ha by 2030.
Can Tho city will be the region’s centre foragro-aquaculture processing and energy development, while Ca Mau, Tra Vinh, SocTrang, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu provinces will be home to electricity centresand maritime economic zones. Multi-sector industrial parks will be based inLong An and Tien Giang.
The plan also designates Can Tho, MyTho city (Tien Giang province), and Phu Quoc island (Kien Giang province) intothe region’s tourism centres.
The region will exploit its natural and cultural advantages to develop typicaland highly competitive tourism products like experiencing life on rivers,eco-tourism, tours to cultural heritages, sea-island resort tourism.
Tourism products in the region also includecommunity tourism, tours to historic-revolutionary sites and trade villages.
TheMekong Delta accounts for 12 percent of the national area and 19 percent ofpopulation, contributes 50 percent of the rice crop, 65 percent of aquaculture,70 percent of fruit output, 95 percent of rice export and 60 percent of fishexport.-VNA