The event aimed to call for investment in developing valuechains of agriculture, aquatic processing, tourism, and energy in Dong Thap aswell as the neighbouring localities of Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho,and An Giang.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee Nguyen Van Duong said that the Mekong Delta is a trade gatewaybetween Vietnam and ASEAN and Mekong Sub-regional countries.
As one of the few national economic hubs that also has anatural green landscape, the region supplies up to 90 percent of rice forexport, 70 percent of fruit output, and just short of 60 percent of aquaticproducts for export. However, its potential for farm produce processing andtourism is yet to be fully tapped.
Hailing Australia for its modern agriculture and foodprocessing, Duong said that regional localities call on Australian businessesto come to work together towards products of high added-value, contributing to themodernisation of agriculture in the region.
Chairman of the Australian Chamber of Commerce in VietnamMatthew Lourey held that joint work between Australian firms and Mekong Delta localitieswill improve the value of key local products and open up more businessopportunities.
Chairman of the Board of Directors for Mavin Group DavidJohn Whitehead, lauded Dong Thap as one of the top localities in the nation boastinghigh competitiveness, adding that this was one of the key factors in theirdecision to build an animal feed plant worth 675 billion VND (30.2 billion USD)there and expand investment in other projects.
He pointed out that infrastructure and logistics services inthe region remain poor. As a major farm produce and aquatic productsmanufacturer and exporter, the region still lacks a deepwater port. Meanwhilemany bridges are weak and in need of upgrade, making it hard for goodstransportation.
At the event, the provincial People’s Committee signed a memorandumof understanding (MoU) with Mavin Group on building a food processing plant upto European standards, and another MoU with Sun Rice Group on developing ricevalue chain via linkages with local material zones. The two projects are alreadyworth nearly 1 trillion VND (43.4 million USD).
Representatives from the Australian Business Group inVietnam also signed several memoranda of understanding on promoting investmentwith Long An, Ben Tre, Dong Thap, and Tien Giang. –VNA