At the working session (Source: VNA)Can Tho (VNA) –The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho is seeking Japanese investments in nine projects, focusing on high-tech agriculture and industry, centralized IT, logistics and construction, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thanh Thong.
At a working session with a delegation of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam and Japanese partners on April 19, the official said the nine are among 46 projects with total investment capital of about 100 trillion VND (4.4 billion USD) calling for investors, to be announced at an investment promotion conference in Can Tho city slated for August 2018.
The city is also looking for partners and donors for pre-feasibility study on a cable car project linking Can Tho International Airport with Cai Rang district, and an urban waterway project along Hau River, which runs from An Giang province to Hau Giang province through Can Tho city, he added.
The Chairman took the occasion to ask the Japanese Consul General, Embassy and partners to join hands with the city to organise celebrations of the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties, and the fourth Japanese culture and trade day in the city in the coming time.
The municipal leader suggested establishing a research centre or office on Japan at the Can Tho University, which, he said, will work as a channel to provide Japanese partners with information on Mekong Delta localities, especially Can Tho, while supporting human resources development for investment projects.
He also sought Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) for the construction of the 300-bed Can Tho Cardiovascular Hospital, which will need investment capital of some 1.5 trillion VND (66 million USD).
Present at the working session, former State President Truong Tan Sang said the Vietnamese Government aims to turn Can Tho into a centre of the Mekong Delta, thus spurring the regional growth. Therefore, Vietnam hopes Japan can help the city build a master plan for the development of not only the city but also the Mekong Delta as a whole.
He also appealed to the Japanese side to help the city with social sectors like hospitals, schools and scientific-technological facilities in order to ease the burden for Ho Chi Minh City.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Umeda Kunio said many Japanese firms had expressed willingness to engage in comprehensive cooperation with Mekong Delta localities during the April 18 conference in Can Tho that aimed to connect Japanese businesses and the 12 provinces and Can Tho city in the Delta.
He asked Can Tho to provide official information about the upcoming investment promotion conference for the Japanese side.
The ambassador hailed the Can Tho Chairman’s proposal on a Japan research centre, adding that Japan is willing to cooperate with Can Tho in this issue.
He noted that Japan and the Can Tho University have partnered in agriculture, and Japan wants to increase Japanese language teaching and cultural exchange at the university.
Regarding the Can Tho Cardiovascular Hospital, the ambassador said the Japan International Cooperation Agency will be assigned to work on this matter.-VNA
VNA
