Can Tho, Japan locality seek to promote all-around cooperation

Can Tho (VNA) - Officials of the People’s Committee of Mekong Delta Can Tho city and those from Wakayama prefecture of Japan on August 29 discussed prospects of multi-faceted cooperation between the two localities in the Vietnamese city.  

Governor of Wakayama prefecture Yoshinobu Nisaka said the Japanese authorities and enterprises highly value Can Tho’s position as a key industrial city and a locality with a high quality and productivity of farm produce in the Mekong Delta and in the country.

However, he pointed out that Can Tho has weaknesses in preserving and processing agricultural products.

Through ODA projects, Wakayama will transfer high technologies in producing, processing and distributing farm products, he said.

Training courses joined by Japanese experts will be organised for local agricultural officials and farmers, thus developing human resources for the locality’s agricultural development and business of local farm produce, the official affirmed.

He added that the prefecture will propose the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam to build a centre for preserving and processing agricultural products with the application of modern technologies meeting international standards in Can Tho in the coming time.

Wakayama will encourage and create favourble conditions for Japanese enterprises in general and those from the prefecture in particular to promote their direct investment in Can Tho and adjacent localities.

The application of hi-tech agricultural models and post-harvest technology will be expanded in Can Tho, towards creating more safe agricultural products with high productivity and efficiency.

Regarding the import of farm produce, Wakayama wants Can Tho to popularise and market products processed from seedless persimmon - Japanese locality’s speciality in the southwest region, Nisaka said, adding that his locality will import special fruits of Can Tho.

In terms of urban management and environment protection, Nisaka said Wakayama’s environmental management agencies have set up database and smart infrastructure management in order to address environmental incidents caused by industrialization and modernization in the locality.

Wakayama prefecture is ready to assist Can Tho in building software for urban planning, preservation of water drainage works, and data management to monitor construction works, he said, adding that such software can be added into curricula at faculties of natural resources and environment across Can Tho universities.

Nisaka committed to support Can Tho in connecting with investors and designers of power-saving devices and solar power-fuelled system for public lighting, tapping public-private partnership models in urban management, especially sluice and water supply systems.

In tourism, authorities of the prefecture will ask tourism agencies, association and local firms to help Can Tho with tourism promotion.

According to him, more and more Wakayama residents have choosen Vietnam’s southern localities as destinations thanks to peaceful setting, hospitality and unique culture. With many natural cultural heritages, Can Tho has attracted the attention of Japanese visitors.

The guest also took the occasion to ask Can Tho authorities to popularise the prefecture’s attractions such as Koya mountain and Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route which have been recognised as the world natural heritages.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thanh Thong agreed with the host’s proposals, and pledged to provide all possible support for Japanese and Wakayama firms to do business in the city.

He reiterated that the municipal authorities encourage departments, agencies and enterprises to strengthen bilateral collaboration.-VNA