The Mekong Delta’s key economic sector, agriculture-aquaculture-forestry, is attracting foreign investors, especially from Japan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Taiwan (China).

The sector, which accounts for 35.3 percent of the region’s economy, plays a strategic role in driving the region’s economic growth, experts said.

Recently, a large number of enterprises from Japan and RoK embarked on fact-finding tours to the region to seek cooperation and investment opportunities in the field.

Several Japanese firms selected Dong Thap as a destination for their investment.

Besides, the Mekong Delta province is planning to establish a 10,000ha rice cultivation area, applying the large-scale paddy field model.

Experts said this is expected to pave the way for other foreign capital sources to flow into the region.

However, they also underscored the need to provide incentives for investment in agriculture, develop infrastructure, apply advanced technology and suitable agricultural production models, and accelerate agricultural restructuring in a bid to attract more investment.

A number of banks and real-estate businesses have invested billions of USD in agricultural projects in the region. This sends a positive message to foreign direct investors in the sector.

At present, Mekong Delta provinces are calling for investments in over 100 projects, including agricultural projects.

As the largest farming area in the country, the region accounts for 40.7 percent of the national agriculture and forestry output, 53.4 percent of rice, 70 percent of fruit and 68.7 percent of seafood. Ninety percent of the country’s rice export volume and 70 percent of seafood export turnover originate in this region.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, as many as 903 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth 11.8 billion USD were operational in the region by the end of September this year, with only 52 agriculture-forestry-aquaculture projects worth 242.5 million USD.

During the first six months of this year, the region recorded an economic growth rate of 8 percent.

In order to promote sustainable growth and attract more FDI capital to the region, especially in agriculture, experts said it is essential to improve the investment climate and bolster regional links in the near future.-VNA