The Mekong Delta region needs additional transaction centres to distribute and promote its agricultural products domestically and internationally.

Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Le Vinh Tan made the suggestion during a working session with the Steering Committee for Southwest Region in Can Tho city on June 5.

Tan lauded positive results the steering committee has achieved in the economy, culture and national security.

He highlighted the initiatives of a capacity-building programme for farmers and regional networking in the production and distribution of rice, fruits and aquatic products.

To develop those plans further, Tan suggested improving transportation system and infrastructure facilities as well as launching additional irrigation projects.

The Southwest Region Steering Committee revealed that robust socio-economy and the agricultural restructuring towards higher value added and sustainability in the region have led to improved income for locals, increasing provincial competitiveness index (PCI), and expanding impacts of the new-style rural development campaign.

Within the 2011-2014 period, regional GDP reached 10.04 percent in average. By the end of 2014, its economic structure has switched from agriculture-service-industry to service-agriculture-industry.

Notably, collective paddy fields and plant-specialised plantations have emerged across the region.-VNA